When will Franklin County's new 3,000‑bed prison open? A family timeline (Franklin County, AR)

The Arkansas Department of Corrections expects partial operations to begin in 2026, with full completion by 2028. Both dates depend on funding, so treat them as projections rather than promises - helpful for planning, but subject to change.

This is a big project. The new Franklin County facility will hold up to 3,000 beds. That scale is why families may hear about it long before it's fully complete - large facilities often open in stages rather than all at once.

In the near term, the public timeline shows a notice to proceed for design-assist services tentatively scheduled for August (the year isn't specified), followed by early sitework in September 2025. These are the kinds of milestones that typically appear before any major construction becomes visible.

• ✓ A notice to proceed for design-assist services in August (the year is not specified in the published excerpt)
• ✓ Early sitework starting in September 2025
• ✓ Signs of early site activity around that September 2025 window (for example, site prep work and equipment staging)

The state has selected a general contractor team - Nabholz Construction and JE Dunn Construction - but that moves the project into contract negotiations, not construction. The Department of Corrections has been clear: no building has started yet. Right now, the focus is on coordination and pre-work planning.

The Department of Corrections is taking a phased approach: partial operations as early as 2026, full completion anticipated by 2028 (pending funding). Phasing means they can start using part of the facility earlier instead of waiting for every building and system to be finished.

For families, the key point is that a 3,000‑bed facility can reshape things even before it's "fully open." A partial opening at this scale is still substantial - so expect to hear about transfers or housing changes in stages rather than on one single switch-over date.

1. Watch for “partial operations” - the DOC has projected partial operations beginning in 2026 (pending funding), which usually means some parts of the facility are ready to function while others are still being finished.
2. Expect a ramp-up period - a phased opening often brings gradual changes (not one day where everything looks different).
3. Look toward “full completion” - the DOC has said full completion is anticipated by 2028 (pending funding), which is the point when the entire project is expected to be finished.

Use the published dates as a planning tool, not a firm appointment. If you're making decisions that depend on where your loved one will be housed - travel plans, childcare, time off work - build in flexibility and confirm the latest information before you act. I'd also recommend keeping realistic expectations around "partial operations." It signals progress, but doesn't guarantee immediate changes for every person in custody.

• ✓ Treat “2026” and “2028” as estimates, not fixed deadlines
• ✓ Check for official updates regularly so you’re not relying on old timelines
• ✓ Confirm details before you travel (especially if you’re expecting a transfer)
• ✓ Keep your schedule flexible around major project milestones
• ✓ Make sure your loved one’s contact list and your own contact information stay up to date so you don’t miss time-sensitive notices