FOIA Findings: Arkansas Prison Drug Crisis & Infrastructure Failures

As part of our mission for justice and transparency, Arkansas Restorative Initiative filed a statewide Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC). Our request sought documentation on drug-related incidents, infrastructure conditions, and internal safety concerns within Arkansas prisons and reentry facilities.

After weeks of delay, we received internal documents. What they reveal is alarming:

Drug Crisis Behind Bars

Between 2023 and May 2025, ADC facilities reported:

  • 82 fentanyl-related incidents, with concentrations in high-security units

  • 107 documented cases of inmates being under the influence of drugs or unknown substances

Top impacted units include:

  • Varner Supermax

  • Tucker Reentry Center

  • Cummins Unit

  • Delta Regional Unit

Even the ADC Headquarters and transport teams reported signs of inmate intoxication.

Infrastructure: Missing, Redacted, or Ignored

Despite repeated mentions of “facility stability” in ADC’s annual reports, we found:

  • No detailed breakdowns of flooding, mold, HVAC issues, or structural failures

  • No data showing timelines for repairs or risk assessments

  • Surface-level summaries of infrastructure upgrades without impact tracking

This lack of transparency puts incarcerated people and correctional staff at daily risk.

What the Law Requires

Under Arkansas Code § 25-19-105, government agencies must respond to public records requests within three business days. The ADC delayed our request far beyond this timeline.

Arkansas law also mandates the Board of Corrections to provide programs and policies that reduce recidivism and protect the safety of incarcerated people. Our findings suggest these obligations are not being met system-wide.

📣 Why This Matters

The people inside our prison system like many on pretrial, nonviolent, or rehabilitated are living in conditions that violate not only human dignity but state responsibility. These aren’t just numbers. These are signs of a system in crisis, covered in red tape and silence.

We’re continuing to audit and publish our findings. If you or a loved one has experienced similar conditions, please contact us. Your voice matters. Your experience adds to the truth.


Links to documents:

1. Zipped File 2. Zipped File 3. Zipped File  4. Zipped File 5. Zipped File

⚠️ Why We Filed This FOIA Request

In a state where government accountability is often optional and transparency is treated like a threat, we filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to uncover what’s really happening inside the Cummins Unit: a major Arkansas prison with a long history of health, safety, and sanitation concerns.

Our request demanded:

  • All inspection reports, environmental assessments, or internal audits related to black mold, sewage, structural failures, or hazardous conditions.

  • All work orders or incident reports related to sewage overflow, water damage, or unsanitary conditions.

  • Emails or memos between ADC officials and contractors about infrastructure failure or sanitation issues.

  • Inmate grievances related to respiratory issues, mold, contaminated water, or unsafe housing.

  • Any contracts or proposals related to repairs, sanitation upgrades, or wastewater treatment plans.

What We Found

The response we received exposes a deeply broken system, not just structurally, but administratively and morally.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Violations

The Cummins-Varner wastewater facility has been operating at 133% over its legal design capacity for years. According to internal engineering reports, the plant repeatedly violated environmental permits due to:

  • Excessive fecal coliform bacteria

  • High levels of total suspended solids (TSS)

  • Carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD)

  • Oil, grease, ammonia, and oxygen level failures

Instead of making immediate repairs, the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) has been weighing four options, including doing nothing and paying $1,000 a day in fines.

Structural Collapse, Leaks & Hazardous Conditions

Dozens of maintenance reports and internal memos reveal:

  • Shower valves that run uncontrollably

  • Toilets and urinals down for weeks or months

  • Roof leaks in living areas, libraries, kitchens, and infirmaries

  • Standing water and collapsing sheetrock in dining halls

  • Ceiling water dripping into electrical lights and onto food prep areas

Some staff resorted to placing 55-gallon drums in chow halls to catch brown water dripping from cracked ceilings, right next to where food is served!

Water Quality & Inmate Health

At least three inmates filed grievances in 2024 citing persistent diarrhea, nausea, and stomach issues. In response, staff admitted to struggling to locate water treatment logs (despite supposedly conducting regular tests).

Even when no pathogens showed up on lab reports, the state never ruled out the presence of mold, chemical residue, or low-grade contamination from aging pipes or failing infrastructure.

What This Means for Transparency

These problems weren’t openly disclosed. They were uncovered.

Our FOIA request didn’t just expose the crumbling infrastructure… It revealed something even more alarming: a pattern of bureaucratic delay, document suppression, and failure to notify the public.

When records like this are hidden, we don’t just lose access to information: We lose lives, health, and basic dignity.

We Demand:

  • Full publication of all environmental and maintenance audits across ADC facilities

  • Mandatory public release of inmate health & sanitation grievances

  • Independent oversight of prison infrastructure repair contracts

  • Proactive notification when prison conditions reach emergency levels

🗂️ Read the Full Records

Download the full FOIA document set here: Cummins Unit