State corrections officials are evaluating potential expansions at three area prisons—Newport’s Grimes Unit, Batesville’s White River Correctional Center, and the Benny Magness Unit in Calico Rock—among eight facilities under consideration statewide, according to internal documents accessed by the *Arkansas Democrat-Gazette*.

The shift to expanding existing prisons follows the quiet cancellation of Governor Sarah Sanders’ proposed 3,000-bed mega-prison in Franklin County, which met with local opposition and funding challenges, as reported by the newspaper.

A memo titled “Expansion Opportunity Plan,” sent on June 5 by Department of Corrections Chief of Staff Wade Hodge to Secretary Lindsey Wallace, outlines potential projects at each site. According to the *Democrat-Gazette*, the memo proposes using unused or underutilized facilities and adding new structures to meet growing inmate population needs.

At Batesville’s White River Correctional Center, officials identified space for a re-entry program barracks. This program focuses on helping incarcerated individuals prepare for reintegration into society.

In Newport, the Grimes Unit could convert its vacant Prison Industry Enhancement building to house between 125 and 200 inmates in re-entry or minimum-security programs. The memo notes this would require hiring 16 additional corrections officers and four sergeants to staff the repurposed facility.

The Benny Magness Unit in Calico Rock is also being considered for expansion using prefabricated housing units. However, this plan depends on upgrading the prison’s wastewater treatment system. The facility currently operates under a consent order from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality for exceeding the capacity of its existing wastewater plant.

These proposals collectively form part of a broader plan to add approximately 550 beds statewide, according to the memo obtained by the *Democrat-Gazette*.

The shift toward facility expansion comes as Arkansas faces prison overcrowding and pressure to accommodate more inmates. Corrections officials are focusing on utilizing or upgrading existing infrastructure as a practical alternative to building new facilities, which often face cultural, financial, and logistical hurdles.

Further details on the proposed expansions and their timelines have not yet been released.