Pulaski County judge, county officials ask legislators for more prison funding

By Marine Glisovic
Talk Business & Politics

Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde sounded the alarm on the state’s prison overcrowding issues on Wednesday (Aug. 31) during a meeting with legislators and stakeholders. Joining with the Arkansas Sheriffs Association and Association of Arkansas Counties, Hyde and supporters urged lawmakers to spend some of the state’s $1.6 billion surplus on a new prison.

A letter penned to lawmakers is asking them to think about the public’s safety when they return to the Arkansas Capitol next year for the 2023 Arkansas Legislative Session. They said releasing violent convicted felons due to prison overcrowding is jeopardizing the public’s safety and this is simply unacceptable. Read more.