Magness honored at recent Board of Corrections meeting
As the nation’s longest serving chairman of a prison board, Benny Magness is sharing his thoughts on the future of prisons in the state as he looks to retirement after December 31.
The building of a new state prison in Franklin County has been a hot topic across the state over the last couple of years as the Arkansas Board of Corrections works to see it’s completion. The prison is proposed to house 3,000 beds on 815 acres in Franklin County. The goal is to ease overcrowding and create jobs but opponents have raised concerns over transparency, cost and the site’s remoteness.
During the meeting Magness took time to speak on his thoughts about the future prison in Franklin County.
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A continued focus on drug treatment is a way to reduce the need for more beds and lower the prison population according to Magness.
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During his tenure, Magness served under four Arkansas governors. He was originally appointed to the board by former Governor Mike Huckabee, who now serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. A public dispute between current Governor Sarah Sanders and Magness in late 2023 over the boards authority to overturn the addition of more prison beds led to Sanders calling for his resignation. Magness says they maintained a working relationship despite their disagreement.
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Magness credits Governor Sanders with much needed pay increases for prison staff around the state.
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During his address to the board Magness took time to speak on the importance of protecting the programs he and the board have grown and developed over the years including the 309 inmate program, GED, college, and seminary classes. Magness leaves the board confident that the legacy he worked to build will continue to serve the citizens of Arkansas for years to come as he looks forward to the next generation to come along and continue that work.
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