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Arkansas Republican, Democrat have differing opinions on prison reform bill

Updated: 9:20 AM CDT Mar 27, 2023

Arkansas lawmakers are disagreeing over a planned prison reform bill. The bill would require prisoners to serve the full length of time they were sentenced. They will also be mental health programs and help for people being released back into society.Phil Reed, of 40/29, talked to a Republican and a Democrat to hear what they have to say on 40/29 News On The Record.Sen. Bart Hester, a Republican from Cave Springs, is working on the bill, which he says will be filed Monday. The portion about what he calls "truth in sentencing" has been his focus."When everybody opens up the paper or watches you on the news, and you talk about some guy that's brutalized some child and got 50 years, we all believe he got 50 years," Hester said. "But the reality is in Arkansas that they got one-sixth of 50 years, they're eligible for parole."Hester said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders wants mental health programs to be in the bill."We're adding some more of that in this week to make sure that when somebody gets out of prison, and we all believe that most people going to prison should get out at some point, that they're ready to be back and functioning citizens in society, and a lot of that will be revolved around mental health," Hester said.Rep. Andrew Collins, a Democrat from Little Rock, said he supports reentry programs."After all, most every person who serves a prison sentence will at some point reenter society, and we need to help smooth that transition best we can because they're going to be part of our society," he said.However, Collins disagrees with the sentencing portion of the bill. He said research shows that longer prison sentences don't effectively deter potential criminals."There are things that are proven to work," he said. "Increasing policing, especially quality policing with well-paid, well-trained officers on the streets. That can actually help prevent crime."Collins said that addressing the root causes of crime by supporting education, families, and communities and providing legal ways to make a living are better and more affordable long-term solutions.

Arkansas lawmakers are disagreeing over a planned prison reform bill. The bill would require prisoners to serve the full length of time they were sentenced. They will also be mental health programs and help for people being released back into society.

Phil Reed, of 40/29, talked to a Republican and a Democrat to hear what they have to say on 40/29 News On The Record.

Sen. Bart Hester, a Republican from Cave Springs, is working on the bill, which he says will be filed Monday. The portion about what he calls "truth in sentencing" has been his focus.

"When everybody opens up the paper or watches you on the news, and you talk about some guy that's brutalized some child and got 50 years, we all believe he got 50 years," Hester said. "But the reality is in Arkansas that they got one-sixth of 50 years, they're eligible for parole."

Hester said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders wants mental health programs to be in the bill.

"We're adding some more of that in this week to make sure that when somebody gets out of prison, and we all believe that most people going to prison should get out at some point, that they're ready to be back and functioning citizens in society, and a lot of that will be revolved around mental health," Hester said.

Rep. Andrew Collins, a Democrat from Little Rock, said he supports reentry programs.

"After all, most every person who serves a prison sentence will at some point reenter society, and we need to help smooth that transition best we can because they're going to be part of our society," he said.

However, Collins disagrees with the sentencing portion of the bill. He said research shows that longer prison sentences don't effectively deter potential criminals.

"There are things that are proven to work," he said. "Increasing policing, especially quality policing with well-paid, well-trained officers on the streets. That can actually help prevent crime."

Collins said that addressing the root causes of crime by supporting education, families, and communities and providing legal ways to make a living are better and more affordable long-term solutions.

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Arkansas Republican, Democrat have differing opinions on prison reform bill - 4029tv