Izard Co. Quorum Court approves to use a portion of ARPA funds for jail expansion

The Izard County Quorum Court recently voted to use a portion of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies the County received for a jail expansion.According to a press release from Izard County Sheriff Charley Melton, the project has been discussed for over a year and a half by the Quorum Court. Melton says the Department of Public Safety Criminal Detention Review Committee reviewed the county jail and stated there is a lack of space which causes struggles to find room for healthcare, housing and classification goals, not being able to separate trustee class inmates and jail housing areas being over crowded.In August 2022 the committee told the Quorum Court the county needed to start making plans to address the issues.

By: KTLO 99.7FM Staff

The Izard County Quorum Court recently voted to use a portion of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies the County received for a jail expansion.

According to a press release from Izard County Sheriff Charley Melton, the project has been discussed for over a year and a half by the Quorum Court. Melton says the Department of Public Safety Criminal Detention Review Committee reviewed the county jail and stated there is a lack of space which causes struggles to find room for healthcare, housing and classification goals, not being able to separate trustee class inmates and jail housing areas being over crowded.In August 2022 the committee told the Quorum Court the county needed to start making plans to address the issues.

Melton says the jail is rated at 34 beds with a recommendation to not go over 80 percent, or 27 beds, of housing to be able to accommodate any arrests made as well as to help achieve inmate classifications. The jail has not been able to meet the goal. Daily average inmate counts in 2021 was 32.2, in 2022 39.1, and in 2023 the average was 41.5. Melton says some days the jail had 50 plus inmates.

Using the ARPA monies allows the County to use the monies provided without citizens having to pay an additional sales tax for the next several years or use County general funds for the jail expansion. The State does reimburse the County to house Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) inmates helping to offset the cost.

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