Washington County to close state facility due to overcrowding [Video]

“As we continue to grapple with our jail overcrowding issues, we have reached a point where we are having to make some very difficult decisions.”

WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Washington County has asked to terminate its lease agreement with the Arkansas Community Corrections (ACC) for the women’s correctional in response to the state allegedly not doing enough about jail overcrowding issues in the county.

In an email to justices of the peace with the subject line Keeping you informed, Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins said a notice of termination letter was sent to ACC on March 29. Deakins said in the email that while the lease termination serves as a 9-month notice of closing the jail, renegotiating the lease is a possibility.

In response to the notice, Dina Tyler with the Department of Corrections told 5NEWS they are currently assessing how to move forward.

“We are studying our options very …