Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross said Tuesday that he wants tougher sentences for repeat and violent offenders, additional hiring of probation and parole officers and increased spending to combat child abuse and domestic violence.
He said his plan -- which he called the "Tougher, Smarter Crime Reduction Plan for Arkansas" -- would cost the state about $10 million more a year to implement.
In contrast, Ross said it costs the state about $80 million in one-time funds to build each 1,000-bed prison and about $20 million a year to keep one open.
"We may have to build another prison, [but] any new prison needs to be tied to these reforms because Arkansas and the taxpayers of the state cannot afford to continue to build prison after prison after prison. This plan will ensure that does not happen," he said at a news conference at his campaign headquarters in Little Rock.
The state has 14,635 inmates in the state's prisons and 2,309 state inmates in county jails, according to the state Department of Correction.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson released his plan May 27.
Hutchinson called for more supervision of parolees, longer parole-revocation periods, more funds for drug treatment programs and changes in a 2011 state law that reduced sentences for drug crimes and theft. Hutchinson estimated his plan would cost the state $1.3 million more per year.
When asked how his plan is better than Hutchinson's, Ross said Hutchinson "threw a plan out there that I am not sure that anybody in the law enforcement community took seriously."
Hutchinson's "answer to the parole and probation issue that we have in Arkansas and his answer to re-entry was to invest an additional $5 per parolee in Arkansas. Really? That is not a serious crime reduction plan," he said.
Ross said his comprehensive plan resulted from four months' work and meetings with law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, public defenders, advocates for crime victims and others.
In response, Hutchinson said it is disappointing that Ross "arrogantly mocks my plan to provide additional funding for re-entry programs when his plan does the same thing."
Ross of Little Rock is a former 4th District congressman, state senator and Nevada County Quorum Court member. Hutchinson of Rogers is a former 3rd District congressman, federal Homeland Security Department undersecretary, director of the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. attorney for the western district of Arkansas.
In his 17-page plan, Ross said he wants to, among other things:
• Work with legislators to enact tougher sentences for repeat offenders by allowing prosecutors to charge repeat offenses as more serious crimes with longer sentences and to seek tougher sentences for certain violent crimes, such as aggravated residential burglary, and various other crimes, such as firearm theft.
Act 570 of 2011 reduced sentences for drug crimes and theft and changed probation and parole processes with the aim of reducing the state's growing prison population.
Ross said Act 570 is generally working, but "there may be some revisions that need to be made, and I will work in a bipartisan manner with the legislature and the law enforcement community to address those."
State law also should be changed to require people convicted of aggravated residential burglary to serve at least 70 percent of their sentence, Ross said.
• Work with the state Parole Board "to stop the revolving door of inmates released on parole only to continue to re-commit felony offenses."
• Gradually increase funding by $8.5 million a year over four years to hire about 200 more probation and parole officers and to better use sentencing alternatives, such as electronic monitoring and drug courts, and re-entry programs.
The Department of Community Correction has 432 filled probation and parole officer positions, and $8.5 million per year more would finance about 153 more probation and parole officers, department spokesman Dina Tyler said.
• Crack down on child abuse by increasing funding for the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division by $1.28 million per year. The money would allow the hiring of eight more hotline operators and supervisors and 16 more investigators and supervisors. He also wants to provide $346,975 in one-time money for new vehicles and equipment to the division.
• Create a statewide database where all orders of protection would be listed and provide additional training for law enforcement officers who respond to acts of domestic violence. Ross also wants to allow survivors of domestic violence who are fleeing or hiding from abusive or dangerous partners to terminate a lease agreement with no penalty.
• Raise court fees for criminals convicted of certain abuse and domestic violence-related crimes, earmarking roughly $1 million more per year for a state fund that helps finance domestic violence shelters. The fee would be $150 for misdemeanor convictions and $300 for felony convictions.
Metro on 07/16/2014