Controversy has erupted following Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ announcement of plans to construct a prison with approximately 3,000 beds in Franklin County.
Residents of Charleston, the small town slated for the prison, are expressing concerns about the potential risks of inmate escapes and the impact on local property values. Many fear that the presence of the prison will lower the value of their long-held homes.
Tonya Carruth, a Lavaca resident and mother of an 8-year-old, has initiated a petition against the prison that has garnered nearly 1,700 signatures from community members.
“My concern is I have an 8-year-old little girl, and I just think about one prisoner… one prisoner in our small little community coming into your house with your child,” Carruth said. “That’s a big deal.”
Carruth learned about the prison plan simultaneously with the rest of the community, alongside local leaders, leaving many feeling blindsided.
In a letter to the Chairman of the Board of Corrections and Governor Sanders, Republican State Senator Bryan King (R-Green Forest) urged that no further steps be taken until the local community has a chance to voice its opinions.
When questioned about safety concerns in a KDYN interview, Sanders responded, “Instead of setting people free, we can put them in this facility and make sure that our communities are infinitely safer.”
Republican State Representative Jimmy Gazaway (R-Paragould) added that choosing this site is a significant move towards relieving pressure on county jails while improving public safety throughout Arkansas.
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