Longer Prison Sentences for Violent Offenders in Arkansas: Act 659

Immigration is an important issue in the 2024 election cycle. AR can protect our state and national borders or we can turn a blind eye.

Act 1076 of 2019 prohibits Sanctuary Cities in AR. The bill passed along partisan lines with strong Republican support and vigorous Democrat opposition.

Act 659 of 2023, The Protect AR Act

The legislature approved Act 659, the Protect Arkansas Act. It lengthens prison sentences for violent offenders and requires inmates to work harder to qualify for parole.

Criminals convicted of rape and capital murder would serve 100 percent of their sentences. This also applies to aggravated robbery, human trafficking, Internet stalking of a child.

Offenders would serve 85 percent of their sentence after conviction for a long list of violent felonies, including second degree murder and first degree sexual assault.

Making offenders serve longer sentences would bring Arkansas sentencing guidelines more in line with those used by federal prisons.

The Act will reduce overcrowding in county jails that hold state inmates. County jails house about 2,000 convicted state inmates, creating dangers for jail staff and people in jail for minor offenses