Arkansas Corrections Department Abandons Restrictions on Physical Books, Newspapers
Officials will keep physical books and newspapers available while adding a central screening point to stop drug-laced publications, they said.
- On Monday, the Arkansas Department of Corrections announced it will shift away from a proposed book ban, establishing instead a centralized screening process to test incoming mail for drugs before delivery to inmates.
- Officials aim to curb narcotics entering facilities after third-parties were reported soaking or spraying publications with illegal drugs. Dexter Payne, who oversees the operation of the prisons, noted paper in books is a primary smuggling method.
- Corrections board chairman Jamie Barker emphasized during Monday's meeting, "Please do not print a headline that says we're banning books, because we're not." The plan allows the department to target "misbehaving" third-party sellers of contraband publications.
- Tawnie Hughes, the department's chief legal officer, noted the move "effectively what it does is put a little more teeth" into existing policy. This avoids a full rulemaking process that officials had paused earlier this year.
- Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace stated the department seeks the "least restrictive" method for roughly 18,500 inmates. Officials continue to evaluate digital and library options to maintain reading access while addressing drug smuggling concerns.
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Arkansas corrections department abandons restrictions on physical books, newspapers - The Mexico Ledger
Board of Corrections Chairman Jamie Barker (center) and board member Nathan Lee (left) listen to department staff during a Sept. 21, 2026 board meeting. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)The Arkansas Department of Corrections will shift its focus away from creating a policy restricting access to physical books in an effort to prevent illegal drugs from entering prisons, officials told the state corrections board Monday. Officials instea…
Arkansas corrections department abandons restrictions on physical books, newspapers - Seward Independent
Board of Corrections Chairman Jamie Barker (center) and board member Nathan Lee (left) listen to department staff during a Sept. 21, 2026 board meeting. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)The Arkansas Department of Corrections will shift its focus away from creating a policy restricting access to physical books in an effort to prevent illegal drugs from entering prisons, officials told the state corrections board Monday. Officials instea…
thepampanews.com
Arkansas corrections department abandons restrictions on physical books, newspapers
The Arkansas Department of Corrections will shift its focus away from creating a policy restricting access to physical books in an effort to prevent illegal drugs from entering prisons, officials told the state corrections board Monday. Officials instead plans to tighten the language of a 2022 policy and give the department more authority to ban [...]
Arkansas prisons developing new policy for books sent to inmates | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Books being sent into Arkansas prisons may soon go to a central depository where staff will test for drugs before the material would be sent on to inmates, prison officials said Monday.
Arkansas corrections department abandons restrictions on physical books, newspapers - Stateline Publications
Board of Corrections Chairman Jamie Barker (center) and board member Nathan Lee (left) listen to department staff during a Sept. 21, 2026 board meeting. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)The Arkansas Department of Corrections will shift its focus away from creating a policy restricting access to physical books in an effort to prevent illegal drugs from entering prisons, officials told the state corrections board Monday. Officials instea…
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