In 1913 act 55, signed into law, lead to the establishment of a permanent execution chamber in the state prison system. Nicknamed "The Walls", the new prison opened in 1910. However, ending the convict-lease system would remain an issue in state politics for the next ten years.Ī new prison was simultaneously constructed on a new 15-acre (6.1 ha) site southwest of Little Rock. The General Assembly decided to purchase the Cummins Farm over the objection of Governor Davis, who preferred a location in Altheimer. The political battle consumed state politics for the next year. Further trying to make his case for more sweeping penal reform, Governor Davis toured the convict-leasing camp in England, Arkansas and revealed shocking allegations of inhumane treatment. Governor Jeff Davis vetoed a plan to purchase the Sunnyside Plantation in February 1901. Though officials agreed on the need to purchase a prison farm, widespread disagreement about the new prison's location stalled progress further. In the interim, Arkansas leased many convicts to companies, including the Arkansas Brick Manufacturing Company, for as long as ten years in an effort to house them while a new prison was built. In 1899, the penitentiary site was selected for the new Arkansas State Capitol, which supplanted the Old State House. The state continued to have prison labor be hired to contractors, manufacturers, and planters until 1913. After abuses became publicized, the state assumed direct control of felons. įrom 1849 to 1893 the State of Arkansas leased its convicted felons to private individuals. The state purchased a 92.41-acre (37.40 ha) tract outside of Little Rock in 1839, and the Third General Assembly allocated another $40,500 ($1,099,000 today) in 1840 to finish construction of the Arkansas State Penitentiary. The Second General Assembly in 1838 allocated $20,000 ($509,000 today) to a state penitentiary in Little Rock. Conway, pushed the Arkansas General Assembly to allocate funds for a state penitentiary in their first meeting, but he met strong resistance with many of his proposals, and a penitentiary was not funded. History Penitentiaries and prisons in Arkansas prior to the Department of Correction Īrkansas became a state in 1836. 1.5 2019 state government reorganization.1.3 Department founding and early history.1.1 Penitentiaries and prisons in Arkansas prior to the Department of Correction.Arkansas briefly contracted with a private prison between 19, but inmate conditions were unsafe and unsanitary and United States Department of Justice ruled Arkansas' private prison unconstitutional in 2003. In 1993, Arkansas created the Department of Community Punishment (DCP), which would evolve into the DCC. Prison conditions slowly improved and scandals became more infrequent. Underfunded and mostly operated by so-called 'trusties' (inmates) corrupt and dangerous conditions plagued Arkansas prisons for decades, culminating in several reform efforts throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including the creation of the first modern incarnation of the ADC in 1967.Īs the War on drugs and law and order politics became prominent, the Arkansas inmate population surged, and DOC built new prisons across the state. Arkansas next transitioned to the prison farm system, establishing the Cummins State Farm and Tucker Farm in South Arkansas. Early efforts focused on convict leasing, though the program largely ended toward the end of the 19th century after abuses were exposed, and prisoners were housed in "The Walls" prison in Little Rock until 1933. The Department of Corrections was officially organized as a cabinet-level state agency in 2019, but traces history back to the first state penitentiary in 1838. DCC is responsible for adult parole and probation and offender reentry. DOC maintains 20 prison facilities for inmates in 12 counties. DOC is responsible for housing and rehabilitating people convicted of crimes by the courts of Arkansas. ADC consists of two divisions, the Division of Corrections (DOC) and the Division of Community Corrections (DCC), as well as the Arkansas Correctional School District. formerly the Arkansas Department of Correction, is the state law enforcement agency that oversees inmates and operates state prisons within the U.S. The Arkansas Department of Corrections ( ADC).
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