Attorney General Tim Griffin is neither a legislator nor a governor, but he shares the views of Governor Sarah Sanders and legislative leaders on criminal justice reforms, including extending prison terms and providing inmates with work and education skills. We have worked hard to promote reform. , and increasing prison bed capacity.
Griffin said in an interview with Capitol View and Talk Business & Politics on Sunday (January 22) that he believes 5,000 prison beds are needed to meet demand.
“We need at least three people [3,000] In my opinion,” said Griffin. “The truth is, we’ve been building prisons. We’ve been building prisons for years as a real matter because we’ve been quietly pushing violent felons — they’re the state’s.” No room in jail – we’ve been pushing them into the county jail which basically made the county jail useless.To take up misdemeanor crimes, DUI, etc., we basically essentially rendered misdemeanor justice irrelevant.”
“I think we’ll end up needing about five. [5,000 beds]And you say, “Oh, that’s a lot.” For twenty years this has been ignored, so much so. Prosecutors and their needs have been ignored. The constitutionally required defender has been neglected. Our criminal justice system is underfunded. do we have to spend money? yes. People say we can’t afford it. Let me tell you, you have to do this. If you want to work outside of our state,” he added.
The cost of building 1,000 prison beds is estimated at $100 million. Logically, it would cost him $500 million to build 5,000 prison beds, plus additional funding for operations and staffing.
“Spend your money wisely, whatever the price tag. Whatever the price tag, yes, I am fine with it. It is a great responsibility.”
The massive sentencing bill Griffin is working with Sanders, Senator Ben Gilmore (R), Senator R-Crossett, and Rep. Jimmy Gathaway (R-Paragould) is expected to be hundreds of pages long. expected. It may not redefine the actual prison sentence. Griffin said it might just change the calculation of the early parole option.
“It’s not about getting a longer sentence, it’s about actually doing what you’re given. Now we have “Deception in Sentence” because we speak.
He said the bulk state bill would reflect non-parole federal sentences for some violent crimes, promising that up to 85% of some sentences would be served and 15% would be earned for merit or good deeds. Expect.
“If my methods allow it, it will be part of this bill,” Griffin said. For non-violence there are 50% categories and 25% categories, so you can get a whole sentence, but you have to get a degree, learn how to weld, learn how to drive a truck. You can get your way by learning and learning how to become an electrician.
You can watch Griffin’s full interview in the video below.