Including extra jail beds in hopes of reducing Arkansas crime charges hasn’t labored thus far, but it surely appears to be like like conservatives gained’t let a bit of truth like this one cease them.

Proper-wing politicians, together with Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders, are pushing for “reality in sentencing,” a euphemism for longer, extra punitive jail sentences. Republican lawmakers have made no secret about their plans to spend an estimated $750 million to construct a large new state lock-up to carry hundreds extra individuals.

Wittingly or not, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon gave the lock-’em-up crowd contemporary ammunition throughout an look on CNBC, the place he mentioned shoplifting is as much as such a level that shops might need to lift costs or shut their doorways.

State Rep. David Ray (R-Maumelle) jumped on McMillon’s prophecy of empty storefronts and steeper costs as a brand new argument for the shiny new 3,500-bed jail Republicans have been dreaming of.

Retailers are closing places/elevating costs b/c theft is so rampant & widespread. A consequence of county jails overcrowded w/ state prisoners is there are just about no penalties for misdemeanors. We want extra state jail capability. #arpx #arleg https://t.co/a0oDkwwp0h

— David Ray (@DavidARay) December 12, 2022

However as with most arguments for including extra jail beds to discourage crime, this one doesn’t pan out. Common Info took a deeper dive and found shoplifting charges stay fairly flat. And anyway, with gross sales up 9% yr over yr, Walmart may in all probability soak up the price of just a few purloined steaks with out passing that burden on to you, the client.

Arkansas jail populations have grown at a sooner price than our normal inhabitants in latest a long time, placing the state at fifth within the nation for the variety of individuals we hold locked away. It hasn’t helped in any respect. Our crime charges proceed to be abominable and getting worse.