ASHDOWN, Ark. - Little River County, Arkansas is getting a new jail.
The detention center is being built off U.S. Highway 71, just north of Ashdown. County leaders say the $8 million facility will not only be a cost savings, but will serve the county s future needs.
The current jail does not meet state jail standards. It s been a hot-button issue for several years. They could have shut us down about four years ago. We had to have a plan in place, said County Judge Mike Cranford, who was concerned construction might never happen.
The State Jail Standards Commission gave the county a deadline to come up with a long-term solution. In 2018, a large committee of citizens and elected officials was appointed to study the operation of the jail and consider improvement options.