Battle Over Prison Bill's Effects Heating Up
By: Lauren Trager, KARK 4 News
Updated: October 9, 2012
Who's in prison and for how long: that's what some in central Arkansas are worried about after our story Monday on an increase in the murder rate in Little Rock.
Now, some say a law passed last year is to blame.
They are talking about Act 570, a law that was intended to curb a serious overcrowding problem in the state's prisons.
But some suggest, it's simply made the streets more dangerous.
"The truth is, we are all impacted by crime," said Representative David Sanders.
A current state rep and senate hopeful, Sanders says Act 570 simply isn't working.
He says, proof positive: 41 murders in the capitol city so far this year, compared to 34 last year.
"I think it's accelerating for me, at a disturbing level," said Representative David Sanders.
Correction officials say Act 570 has reduced over-crowding, succeeding in its intended goal to allow less violent offenders out of jail and into supervising programs.
But it's those parole and probation systems, Representative Sanders says, that are broken.
"They coddle, they don't punish," said Representative Sanders.
And, he says, even seemly less violent criminals can be capable of more.
"A lot of crimes have been committed by individuals who are on drugs, high on drugs," said Rep. Sanders.
But Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley says Act 570 shouldn't yet be criticized.
"The jury is still out on Act 57," said Jegley.
He says it's simply too early to know the law's long-term effects on crime.
Overall, he says, it will keep the offenders we are most afraid of off the streets.
"It's not only tough on crime, it's smart on crime, smarter on crime," said Jegley.
Jegley and others suggest that criticism over Act 570 right now isn't just about who's behind bars. It's about the the voter's booth and who's name is being checked off the ballot.
"I think it's a shame to make something political out of an issue that's serious to entire community as crime," said Jegley.
But Sanders says he isn't politicizing the issue, pointing out he's been a vocal critic from the get-go.
"Crime is a problem and one that a lot of people up there don't want to talk about because it involves money," said Representative Sanders.
Both he and Jegley agree on one thing: a hope to see fewer crime scenes.
The Department of Community Corrections which is over parole and probation, says they're case loads are heavier than they'd hope for.
Overall, they say their offenders crime rates are going down.
But there isn't anyone who is actually yet taking a close look at whether Act 570 is working.
Of course, we'll keep our eye on it.
Now, some say a law passed last year is to blame.
They are talking about Act 570, a law that was intended to curb a serious overcrowding problem in the state's prisons.
But some suggest, it's simply made the streets more dangerous.
"The truth is, we are all impacted by crime," said Representative David Sanders.
A current state rep and senate hopeful, Sanders says Act 570 simply isn't working.
He says, proof positive: 41 murders in the capitol city so far this year, compared to 34 last year.
"I think it's accelerating for me, at a disturbing level," said Representative David Sanders.
Correction officials say Act 570 has reduced over-crowding, succeeding in its intended goal to allow less violent offenders out of jail and into supervising programs.
But it's those parole and probation systems, Representative Sanders says, that are broken.
"They coddle, they don't punish," said Representative Sanders.
And, he says, even seemly less violent criminals can be capable of more.
"A lot of crimes have been committed by individuals who are on drugs, high on drugs," said Rep. Sanders.
But Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley says Act 570 shouldn't yet be criticized.
"The jury is still out on Act 57," said Jegley.
He says it's simply too early to know the law's long-term effects on crime.
Overall, he says, it will keep the offenders we are most afraid of off the streets.
"It's not only tough on crime, it's smart on crime, smarter on crime," said Jegley.
Jegley and others suggest that criticism over Act 570 right now isn't just about who's behind bars. It's about the the voter's booth and who's name is being checked off the ballot.
"I think it's a shame to make something political out of an issue that's serious to entire community as crime," said Jegley.
But Sanders says he isn't politicizing the issue, pointing out he's been a vocal critic from the get-go.
"Crime is a problem and one that a lot of people up there don't want to talk about because it involves money," said Representative Sanders.
Both he and Jegley agree on one thing: a hope to see fewer crime scenes.
The Department of Community Corrections which is over parole and probation, says they're case loads are heavier than they'd hope for.
Overall, they say their offenders crime rates are going down.
But there isn't anyone who is actually yet taking a close look at whether Act 570 is working.
Of course, we'll keep our eye on it.
