Depending on where the Arkansas Department of Correction makes its budget cuts as per Gov. Mike Beebe’s recent announcement that the state will trim expenses by $100 million, the Clark County Jail could be affected.
In a prepared statement, State Rep. Johnnie Roebuck wrote that the overall 2.2 percent budget cut will have the “greatest impact” on the state departments of Correction, Community Correction, Health and state police. Each state agency has until Nov. 3 to decide where cuts will be made.
“Agencies will be looking for ways to pare down the budget without significant disruptions in service to Arkansas families and to their employees. A possible avenue for this will be reallocating the funds set aside for unfilled positions.”
ADC’s budget will be cut by about $9.1 million, prompting some sheriffs to wonder if this could leave prisoners waiting a little longer before getting a cell in the state’s prison system.
Asked Monday if the cut could complicate matters at the jail, which is already overcrowded, Sheriff David Turner said, “It could. It just depends on if they have beds opened up. It could affect everybody. I’m not sure where they’re going to cut the money.”
ADC is responsible for reimbursing the county for prisoners waiting on room to open up within the state prison system. Once a county prisoner is convicted and sentenced to prison, the sheriff’s office has 21 days to file a judgment and commitment order from the prosecuting attorney’s office. Once that is done, the prisoner is put on a waiting list — then, after 30 days of incarceration in the county jail, ADC reimburses the county $28 per day, plus medical expenses.
The county invoices ADC for the reimbursement when the prisoner is taken to state prison. “In the meantime, (housing and medical expenses) come out of my budget,” Turner said.
Some of the jail budget depends on reimbursements from ADC. “The reimbursements are already approved for this year.” If ADC makes cuts to its reimbursement budget, “It would be like every year. If they’ve got the money, they pay. If they don’t, they owe us, and they pay us when they catch up. Last year they ran out of money, and when they got the money they reimbursed us.” Turner said sometimes it takes up to four months before ADC reimburses the county.
There were 42 prisoners in the county jail on Monday — 25 of whom have been sentenced. Turner said that number is “typical.” If ADC completely cut reimbursements to the county jail for those prisoners and all 25 stayed in the jail for 58 days after being sentenced, that would amount to $19,600 the county would not be reimbursed for four weeks of housing a convicted prisoner.
It does not appear, however, that this will be the case. Dina Tyler, ADC spokesperson, said cuts to the reimbursement rate are not being considered, and that the rate would still be $28 per day for each prisoner.
“We’re still trying to figure out where to cut the $9.1 million,” she said Monday, “but more than likely we will be covering it with salary savings and, maybe, holding some non-security positions open.”
The state Department of Community Correction will suffer a “shortfall of some $3.6 million” from its budget. Turner said cuts from both the ADC and DCC could have an effect on the county jail. Most of the county’s sentenced prisoners (21) are awaiting ADC, while only four are awaiting DCC.
According to County Prosectutor Blake Batson, those sentenced to DCC may not have a violent offense in his criminal history, nor can he have a sex offense. Those sentenced to DCC must have committed a “target offense” before being eligible to be housed in a minimum security treatment facility. Crimes eligible for DCC are theft of property, hot checks, possession of drugs, etc.
The main difference between ADC and DCC, Turner said, is available space. “Usually, if they’re sentenced to DCC, within two to three weeks we’ll get a call (from DCC) saying they’re ready to go.”
Said Roebuck, “The economic downturn has certainly affected Arkansas families. The state’s policy of no-deficit spending prevents the state from suffering greater financial harm. While surrounding states are spending in the red, Arkansas will not have to battle that issue as the economy continues to improve.”
|
|
|
Depending on where the Arkansas Department of Correction makes its budget cuts as per Gov. Mike Beebe’s recent announcement that the state will trim expenses by $100 million, the Clark County Jail could be affected.
In a prepared statement, State Rep. Johnnie Roebuck wrote that the overall 2.2 percent budget cut will have the “greatest impact” on the state departments of Correction, Community Correction, Health and state police. Each state agency has until Nov. 3 to decide where cuts will be made.
“Agencies will be looking for ways to pare down the budget without significant disruptions in service to Arkansas families and to their employees. A possible avenue for this will be reallocating the funds set aside for unfilled positions.”
ADC’s budget will be cut by about $9.1 million, prompting some sheriffs to wonder if this could leave prisoners waiting a little longer before getting a cell in the state’s prison system.
Asked Monday if the cut could complicate matters at the jail, which is already overcrowded, Sheriff David Turner said, “It could. It just depends on if they have beds opened up. It could affect everybody. I’m not sure where they’re going to cut the money.”
ADC is responsible for reimbursing the county for prisoners waiting on room to open up within the state prison system. Once a county prisoner is convicted and sentenced to prison, the sheriff’s office has 21 days to file a judgment and commitment order from the prosecuting attorney’s office. Once that is done, the prisoner is put on a waiting list — then, after 30 days of incarceration in the county jail, ADC reimburses the county $28 per day, plus medical expenses.
The county invoices ADC for the reimbursement when the prisoner is taken to state prison. “In the meantime, (housing and medical expenses) come out of my budget,” Turner said.
Some of the jail budget depends on reimbursements from ADC. “The reimbursements are already approved for this year.” If ADC makes cuts to its reimbursement budget, “It would be like every year. If they’ve got the money, they pay. If they don’t, they owe us, and they pay us when they catch up. Last year they ran out of money, and when they got the money they reimbursed us.” Turner said sometimes it takes up to four months before ADC reimburses the county.
There were 42 prisoners in the county jail on Monday — 25 of whom have been sentenced. Turner said that number is “typical.” If ADC completely cut reimbursements to the county jail for those prisoners and all 25 stayed in the jail for 58 days after being sentenced, that would amount to $19,600 the county would not be reimbursed for four weeks of housing a convicted prisoner.
It does not appear, however, that this will be the case. Dina Tyler, ADC spokesperson, said cuts to the reimbursement rate are not being considered, and that the rate would still be $28 per day for each prisoner.
“We’re still trying to figure out where to cut the $9.1 million,” she said Monday, “but more than likely we will be covering it with salary savings and, maybe, holding some non-security positions open.”
The state Department of Community Correction will suffer a “shortfall of some $3.6 million” from its budget. Turner said cuts from both the ADC and DCC could have an effect on the county jail. Most of the county’s sentenced prisoners (21) are awaiting ADC, while only four are awaiting DCC.
According to County Prosectutor Blake Batson, those sentenced to DCC may not have a violent offense in his criminal history, nor can he have a sex offense. Those sentenced to DCC must have committed a “target offense” before being eligible to be housed in a minimum security treatment facility. Crimes eligible for DCC are theft of property, hot checks, possession of drugs, etc.
The main difference between ADC and DCC, Turner said, is available space. “Usually, if they’re sentenced to DCC, within two to three weeks we’ll get a call (from DCC) saying they’re ready to go.”
Said Roebuck, “The economic downturn has certainly affected Arkansas families. The state’s policy of no-deficit spending prevents the state from suffering greater financial harm. While surrounding states are spending in the red, Arkansas will not have to battle that issue as the economy continues to improve.”
