KATV I Desmond Nugent
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — A group of protestors who are a part of the organization "decARcerate" stood at the steps of the State Capitol Monday following Governor Asa Hutchinson's prison bed expansion last week.
One of the leaders of the group, Reverend Dr. Jeff Hood, told KATV people traveled from Fayetteville to voice their issues with the proposed prison bed expansion. He said they believe more prison beds are not the answer.
"Ultimately the question is why? I mean couldn't we use that money to build up communities, couldn't we use that money for education, pre-k, mental health clinics," Hood said.
Hutchinson announced they are expected to spend between $60 and $100 million to add nearly 500 prison beds to the Arkansas Department of Correction's (ADC) North Central Unit near Calico Rock.
According to Hutchinson, the plan has been approved by the correction board. Hutchinson said funds would come from the state’s budget surplus and must be approved when the Arkansas Legislature meets for the state’s fiscal legislative session.
Hood said when the state uses huge funds that go to prisons, they are taking away other opportunities to grow the community. "When you spend $100 million on new prisons, you are taking $100 million away from our seniors, our kids, and all kinds of spaces and places and communities that need it," he said. Hutchinson said if lawmakers approve the prison expansion plan, construction could begin early next year. Officials with the ADC said they have more than 14,500 inmates and they're at 99 percent capacity. During Hutchinson's state of the state address, protestors interrupted his speech and were escorted out by State Capitol Police. In a live Facebook video by The Heat Magazine, a violent eruption was captured. According to the police report, after a protestor created the disturbance, officers claim one protester pushed them while trying to escort the others out. Police said two of those protestors were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, which is a misdemeanor. Kaleem Nazeem served nearly 29 years at the ADC. Nazeem said he's been out of prison for three years and cites education could've prepared him when he got out. "It's very hard, if not impossible, for someone who has a long-term sentence to get into any educational programs while they're incarcerated," Nazeem said. According to Nazeem, the expansion plan will not benefit the inmates serving time without providing those educational opportunities. "Make them more susceptible when they do return to society to have some applicable skills," Nazeem said. "Because if they don't have applicable skills they'll just really revert to what they been doing." According to Hood, decARcerate only wanted to share how the funds for the bed expansion could be used towards what's needed in Arkansas. "Wouldn't it be amazing for every child in the state to have the opportunity to get a good start, instead of what the governor is suggesting giving them a good finish," he said. Hood told KATV that the two protestors who were arrested were expected to be released Monday evening. Officials with the State Capitol Police said a full report will not be available for a day or two. They said an administrative investigation will be conducted regarding the officers that were involved and what took place, which is standard procedure.