Governor talks jails with county sheriffs

The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association held its 2015 Summer Conference July 26-29, 2015, at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa in Hot Springs. They kicked the week off by playing golf at the Hot Springs Country Club, and then continued the week with two and half days of meetings and a tour of the Garland County Jail. Also, Gov. Asa Hutchinson spoke to the group about jail overcrowding, announcing that he planned to seek an additional $7.4 million from the state legislature to open 200 new prison beds in Pine Bluff within 16 months. Legislators approved that funding on Tuesday, August 18.

Top: Gov. Asa Hutchinson addresses the sheriffs during lunch on Monday, July 27, focusing on jail overcrowding. Also seated at the head table are, from left to right, Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Ronnie Baldwin, Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, Jackson County Sheriff David Lucas and Pulaski County Sheriff Doc Holladay.

Middle: Sheriff Rodney Wright, Sgt. Christie Fullerton and Lt. JP Massiet, all of Saline County, pose for a photograph.

Bottom: Sebastian County Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck, Polk County Sheriff Mike Godfrey and Crawford County Sheriff Ron Brown stand as the governor enters the ballroom.