Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. announced plans to seek reelection. The sheriff is serving his second term in office.
“I’m deeply honored by the trust citizens placed in me nearly seven years ago when they elected me as the 32nd sheriff,” Woods said in a news release. “What began over two decades ago as a deputy sheriff has grown into a career defined by steadfast service and leadership — serving in progressively responsible leadership roles within the sheriff’s office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the state of Arkansas as a two-time gubernatorial appointee to the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.”
The sheriff has also earned a Master of Business Administration degree and advanced law enforcement certifications, and completed premier leadership programs with the FBI, the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Criminal Justice Institute.
“My commitment to safeguarding our community has never been stronger. In my first two terms, we overcame historic flooding, record snowstorms, and the covid-19 global pandemic head on,” he said.
“Alongside our dedicated personnel, we launched the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has funded specialized equipment, professional development, and scholarships for deputies and their families. We secured over $1 million in grants for crime-reduction initiatives, food-distribution partnerships, enhanced courthouse security, advanced law enforcement technology, and peer-recovery specialists in our jail,” he said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
By deploying detainee-tracking and teleconferencing systems, the sheriff’s office cut transport costs, improved accountability and achieved top-tier jail compliance.
“We aided in the introduction and implementation of Pine Bluff’s first evidence-based Group Violence Intervention strategy, revamped departmental policy, increased personnel pay and benefits, championed key safety legislation, and bolstered recruitment and retention.”
According to Woods, crime in Jefferson County is down.
“Year-to-date incidents have fallen from 635 to 579 — a reduction of 8.8% and overall crime has declined 16.3% since I took office, with violent crime down 12.7%. These gains reflect not only our deputies’ hard work, but also the strength of community partnerships and citizen engagement,” he said.
If elected for a third term, Woods said he will:
Deepen community outreach and collaborative crime-prevention initiatives;
Adopt data-driven practices to enhance transparency and efficiency;
Expand mental-health and substance-use interventions in the field and in their facilities;
Pursue additional grants to modernize their fleet and training programs;
Advocate for legislative reforms that support victims and hold offenders accountable.
“Public trust is the cornerstone of the sheriff’s office. I will continue to enforce the law impartially and I humbly ask for your vote in the upcoming election. Together, we’ll protect our families, strengthen our communities, and build a brighter future,” he said.