BENTONVILLE -- Benton County jailers took almost all the reading material away from the inmates last fall because some of them were destroying the books, according to a sheriff's office official.
"As of this moment, there is no discussion about returning the book cart privilege," said Lt. Shannon Jenkins, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office. "That could change in the future, but is not being discussed at this moment."
Inmates still have access to the Bible and other printed religious material, Jenkins said.
The jail supplies inmates with domino cards along with checker and chess boards, she said. The inmates may purchase playing cards from the commissary, she said.
The jail is considering installing televisions in the facility on Southwest 14th Street. The televisions will play only news and will be installed in each jail pod, not in the cells, Jenkins said.
"I don't know when it will happen," she said.
Some inmates were using paper from the books to cover vents, which can lead to heating and air-conditioning problems in the jail, Jenkins said. Some inmates also stuffed the paper in doors or in toilets, causing their cells to flood, she said.
She said there's always been misuse of the books, but it became a bigger problem as the inmate population increased.
Cindy Murphy, communications director for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, said the department has no substantive role beyond that county jail chief executives are required to establish a written policy to provide library services, among other services.
Three inmates wrote letters to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette complaining they no longer have access to magazines and books. They requested their books be returned to them.
Benton County officials still are discussing how many televisions should be purchased and which pods should get one, Jenkins said. The discussion also centers on the rules and procedures for the televisions, Jenkins said.
She didn't have a time frame for when the televisions might be installed.
There are 21 pods in the jail. The sheriff's office budget is $12.4 million, and the jail has a separate budget of $11.4 million. The inmate population was 667 as of Jan. 14, Jenkins said.