State Prison Numbers DROP - Officials Face Questions
October 6, 2026
The article argues that the Arkansas Department of Corrections effectively defunded prison security by removing about 400 correctional-officer positions from its budget. It compares April and May 2026 staffing figures, showing assigned CO-1 and corporal positions falling from 2,472 to 2,080.
Reported vacancies also declined substantially, from 625 to 301, while total vacancies fell from 887 to 581. The article labels these changes “plain and simple defunding,” but provides limited context about whether the reductions reflect budget cuts, hiring improvements, reclassification, or other administrative changes.
Full story at Arkansas Alcatraz