The True Cost of Mass Incarceration in Arkansas: Why Rehabilitation Must Take Priority

Arkansas is Spending More on Prisons, But Are We Any Safer?

The Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) just released its 2024 Inmate Cost Report, and the numbers confirm what we already know: incarceration is draining taxpayer dollars without solving the problem of crime.

  • Total spending in 2024: $417.5 million (a $25.3 million increase from last year)

  • Average cost per inmate per day: $70.43

  • Arkansas’ prison population increased by 801 inmates this year alone

Despite these rising costs, recidivism remains high, and our communities are no safer. The report shows that the state is expanding prison capacity instead of reducing the need for incarceration.

What’s Driving These Costs?

🔴 Medical expenses surged by $21.7 million—yet the report offers no solutions for improving inmate healthcare or mental health services.
🔴 Overhead costs rose by $4.5 million—a sign that overcrowded facilities are straining resources.
🔴 Legal costs jumped by $403,092—due to lawsuits filed by incarcerated individuals against the system itself.

The biggest takeaway? Arkansas is stuck in an endless cycle of incarceration. Instead of addressing the root causes of crime—poverty, lack of education, mental health challenges, and limited job opportunities—the state keeps investing in a system that funnels people back into prison.

Rehabilitation & Reentry Programs Work, But Arkansas Won’t Fund Them!

The ADC report highlights education and job training programs as crucial tools for reducing recidivism. But here’s the problem: Arkansas barely invests in them.

🔹 Arkansas Correctional School District (ACSD)

  • 1,938 inmates enrolled in education programs this year (only a $550,113 funding increase)

  • Education reduces recidivism rates by up to 43%, yet remains underfunded

🔹 Career & Technical Education (CTE)

  • 289 certificates and 1,468 industry-recognized certifications earned

  • Funding increased by just $422,506—a fraction of what is spent on incarceration

Why does this matter? Studies show that every $1 spent on rehabilitation and education saves taxpayers $4-$5 in future incarceration costs. Yet, Arkansas continues to invest in mass incarceration instead of solutions that actually reduce crime.

We Need Smart Justice, Not Bigger Prisons

The real solution isn’t expansion—it’s reform. Arkansas can reduce crime and cut costs by investing in:

✔ Education & Vocational Training – Equipping incarcerated individuals with skills to re-enter the workforce.
✔ Mental Health & Addiction Treatment – Addressing the root causes of many offenses.
✔ Reentry Support – Providing housing, job placement, and social services to prevent reoffending.
✔ Community-Based Sentencing Alternatives – Keeping non-violent offenders out of prison and in productive programs.

💡 The Bottom Line:
Arkansas is spending hundreds of millions expanding a broken system instead of fixing it. By shifting our focus from punishment to rehabilitation, we can reduce crime, lower costs, and create safer communities.

📢 It’s time for real criminal justice reform. Join us in advocating for restorative justice, smart policy changes, and real solutions that put people on the path to success, not back behind bars.