Lawrence County’s ’dream’ is realized

Top left: The new Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center opened March 6, 2018, in Walnut Ridge. Bottom left: This is an inside view of one of the detention center pods. Above: Gov. Asa Hutchinson was on hand to help Lawrence County Judge John Thomison and Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Yates cut the ribbon.

The Governor and county officials unveil a new detention facility built with voter approval.

Story by Christy L. Smith Photos by Holland Doran AAC Communications Department

Lawrence County cut the ceremonial ribbon on its new Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center on March 6, 2018. The $8.5 million facility increases the county’s inmate capacity from 42 beds to 100 beds. It will house local and state inmates — both male and female.

“Designating certain detention facilities to hold local and state female detainees creates efficiencies in part from more efficient use of bed space and staffing in other local detention facilities that can avoid or greatly reduce housing female inmates for periods of time,” said AAC Chief Legal Counsel Mark Whitmore.

Constructed adjacent to the Lawrence County Courthouse, the new detention center replaces a jail built in the 1960s. Arkansas Jail Standards (AJS) threatened that facility with closure in 2014 following an inspection that found chronic overcrowding and deficiencies, such as jail cells that needed to be replaced.

Lawrence County Judge John Thomison said the new jail had been a dream for many years, but high costs and other obstacles prevented the county from building a new facility for a number of years. Then, in 2015, Lawrence County officials successfully went to voters with a solution.

The voters approved a 3/8-cent sales tax increase to pay for construction of a new jail — this increase has a sunset clause and will expire in 22 years. They also approved a permanent 1/8-cent sales tax increase to pay for facility maintenance, making the dream of a new jail possible.

“The embrace of this project by the local citizens and the completion of this new facility is a success story,” Whitmore said.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson served as keynote speaker at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He lauded the county and its residents for building the detention facility without help from the state. He also expressed hope for the inmates housed at the facility.

“I hope everyone who enters the Lawrence County Detention Center leaves with a second chance at life,” he said.