Sheriff Eric Higgins
Education: M.A. in Human Services: Executive Leadership and Counseling, Liberty University in Virginia; B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies, Government and Business
Prior Elected Office or Public Service: Current Pulaski County Sheriff
Democrat
Community Service: Little Rock School District VIPS Board Member, Just Communities of Arkansas Board Member, Arkansas Sheriff's Youth Ranch Board Member, LISA Academy Board Member, Pulaski County Sheriff's Prevention and Re-Entry Foundation member, Leadership of Greater Little Rock Alumni, Member of St. Mark Baptist Church
Do you support sending young offenders to restorative justice programs or other avenues that divert young people out of the juvenile justice system and toward new opportunities? If not, please explain your position. If so, what would you do as Sheriff to promote these programs? I support restorative justice and diversion programs for young offenders. As Sheriff I have staff involved with Teen Court with the Pulaski County School District. The Pulaski County Sheriff's office has a youth mentoring program to divert youth from the criminal justice system.
Do you support rehabilitation programs in prison, jail, and in the local community? If so, how would you advocate to continue expanding funding for these programs? I support rehabilitation programs within prisons, jails, and in the local community. When I took office in 2019 I established a re-entry program within the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. By partnering with ReStore Hope, Department of Community Corrections, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute Focus Group, and other agencies we push for legislation and policy change that with expand funding for these programs.
A study by VERA Institute of Justice found that 63% of people in Arkansas’s jails are being held in pretrial detention. What are the factors contributing to this rate? What is your position on current pretrial incarceration rates? Factors that contribute to this statistic is poverty. The removal of pre-set bonds based on criminal charges combined with the lack of timely pretrial court hearings that determine a person's risk to themselves and the community have resulted in individuals having to remain in a detention facility for up to 72 hours before a bond determination. The current pretrial incarceration rate is something that is in need of improvement. I am a member of Pulaski County APPR Research Action Site Policy Committee, which is currently reviewing the pretrial policy and procedures in Pulaski County.
What do you think is the most effective way to deal with low-level drug offenders? Education and addiction treatment programs, including drug court.
Do you support civilian oversight of law enforcement? How would you encourage community participation in law enforcement oversight? It is up to each community to determine if civilian oversight is necessary for the law enforcement agency that serves their community. And if the community makes the decision to have civilian oversight then local government and the law enforcement agency should work with the community to establish an effective and transparent system. At the Pulaski County Sheriff's office we currently have a Citizen's Advisory committee that meets monthly. These meetings were established to listen to community concerns and recommendations to improve the services provided by the Pulaski County Sheriff's office. By having this committee, the community is encouraged to participate in law enforcement oversight.