LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas officials announced that the state has purchased land in the northwest part of the state to build a new prison.
Officials with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office said an 815-acre property was purchased in Charleston Thursday for $2.950 million after months of searching.
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This announcement comes as the state faces a shortage of prison beds, an issue Sanders has spoken about.
“I promised the people of Arkansas we would address our state’s prison bed shortage and today, I’m announcing the first major investment in our state’s prison capacity since my dad was governor,” Sanders said. “This new facility will help end our failed system of catch-and-early-release, and protect our communities by keeping violent offenders off our streets. For Charleston, Franklin County, and the River Valley, it will offer hundreds of permanent, recession-proof jobs and millions of dollars in investment.”
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State officials said the purchase offers infrastructure for a new prison, including cell reception, water lines, electricity and a nearby fire department. Officials also added that the land is close to more than 100,000 workers who could staff the prison.
An estimated cost for the new facility is unknown, but state officials said hundreds of millions of dollars will be invested in the prison’s construction. The Board of Corrections must vote to approve the prison before construction begins.
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Once it is complete, the facility is expected to employ nearly 800 people at an average salary of more than $46,000. State officials did not disclose how many prison beds will be available in the facility.
Arkansas Department of Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace, Arkansas Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness and other state and local officials joined Sanders in support of plans to bring a new prison to the state.