Green holds court in jail

Judge Robin Green
Judge Robin Green

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green's courtroom sat dark and empty Tuesday afternoon while Green, her staff, deputy prosecutors and public defenders held court at the Benton County Jail.

"The first day was successful," Green said. "I appreciate how accommodating the Sheriff's Office and jail staff have been."

She heard about 30 cases at the jail. The change of venue meant deputies didn't have to take 30 inmates to her courtroom in the Benton County Courthouse.

Green and Circuit Judge Brad Karren are each assigned 50% of the criminal cases in the county.

Green said she plans to continue to hold court at the jail, but she stressed it won't replace hearings in her courtroom.

She began discussing options with Sheriff Shawn Holloway after noticing an increase in the number of inmates being taken to her court.

The Sheriff's Office has taken 2,728 inmates to court through June of this year, an average of 454 inmates a month, according to Chief Deputy Meyer Gilbert. The office has 14 deputies in the transport division who use a host of vehicles, including 14 Dodge Chargers, three vans, two buses and a Chevrolet Tahoe, Gilbert said.

Jay Saxton, Benton County's chief public defender, said there were no issues with having court at the jail.

"It should be OK to use the courtroom there for the purposes the judge has said we will utilize it for," Saxton said.

Green has said she will handle cases at the jail that don't involve victims because she wants to avoid asking them to come to the jail. The majority of the cases she handled Tuesday involved drug crimes.

The cases at the jail are open to the public and at least five people watched the proceedings Tuesday.

Green also will go to the jail to handle some cases on Karren's criminal docket. Karren is recovering from surgery and Green is stepping in to assist in his absence.

Karren holds video court on some Monday afternoons. The judge, along with his bailiff and deputy prosecutors, is in his courtroom while defense attorneys are at the jail with the inmates. The proceedings are done via video.

Sgt. Shannon Jenkins, a spokeswoman for the Benton County Sheriff"s Office, said the office made some cosmetic changes to the jail courtroom including flooring replacement.

Joshua Robinson, deputy prosecutor, said court at the jail went smoothly. Holding pretrial hearings at the jail for inmates eases safety concerns involved in moving a large group of inmates from the jail to the courthouse and back, he said.

"I'm grateful that cases involving victims of violent crimes and sex offenses will continue to be heard at the courthouse," Robinson said.

"I think it's important that victims of crime will not be required to go to the jail to observe a hearing. Our office is excited to be involved in the local criminal justice system that continues to be proactive and creative in obtaining justice for victims and keeping our community safe."

General News on 09/11/2019