Latest news with #DepartmentofCorrections'
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
'Devil in the Ozarks' planned prison escape for months, cited lax security in kitchen, report says
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A former police chief known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks' spent months planning his escape from an Arkansas prison, and said lax security in the kitchen where he worked allowed the convicted murderer to gather the supplies he needed, an internal review by prison officials released Friday said. The Department of Corrections' critical incident review of Grant Hardin's May 25 escape from the Calico Rock prison provides the most detailed description so far of his planning and the issues that allowed him to walk out of the facility. Hardin was captured 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of the Calico Rock prison on June 6. Authorities said he escaped by donning an outfit he designed to look like a law enforcement uniform. Hardin, who worked in the prison's kitchen, said he spent six months planning his escape and used black Sharpie markers and laundry he found lying around the kitchen to create the fake uniform, according to the report. Hardin fashioned a fake badge using the lid of a can. 'Hardin stated he would hide the clothes and other items he was going to need in the bottom of a trash can in the kitchen due to no one ever shaking it down,' the report says. Two prison employees have been fired for procedure violations that led to Hardin's escape. They include a kitchen employee who allowed Hardin on a back dock unsupervised and a tower guard who unlocked the back gate that Hardin walked through without confirming his identity. Several other employees have been suspended and one demoted, lawmakers were told this week. The kitchen's staff was 'very lax on security,' Hardin told investigators, allowing him to gather what he needed for his escape. Hardin said he didn't have any help from staff or other inmates. Hardin had constructed a ladder from wooden pallets in case he needed to scale the prison fence but didn't need it. '(Hardin) stated when he walked up to the gate, he just directed the officer to 'open the gate,' and he did,' the report says. After he escaped from the prison, Hardin survived on food he had smuggled out of the prison along with distilled water from his CPAP machine. Hardin also drank creek water and ate berries, bird eggs and ants. 'He said his plan was to hide in the woods for six months if need be and begin moving west out of the area,' the report says. Hardin, a former police chief in the small town of Gateway, near the Arkansas-Missouri border, is serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. He was the subject of the TV documentary 'Devil in the Ozarks.' The report is one of two reviews into Hardin's escape, which is also being investigated by the Arkansas State Police. A legislative subcommittee has also been holding hearings about the escape. Republican Rep. Howard Beaty, who co-chairs the Legislative Council's Charitable, Penal and Correctional Institutions Subcommittee, said the panel hoped to discuss both reports with officials at a hearing next month. Republican Sen. Ben Gilmore, who sits on the panel, said he didn't think the department's review took a thorough enough look at the systemic issues that enabled Hardin's escape. 'They have focused on the final failure instead of all of the things that led up to it,' he said. The report also cites confusion among corrections officials in the early stages of Hardin's escape about which law enforcement agencies had been notified, the report says. 'It is obvious there was a lot of confusion during the beginning stages of opening the command center and of notifications being made,' the report says. Hardin had been misclassified and shouldn't have been held at the primarily medium-security prison, according to the review. After he was captured, Hardin was moved to a maximum-security prison. He has pleaded not guilty to escape charges, and his trial is set for November. Hardin's custody classification hadn't been reviewed since October 2019, the report says. The Department of Corrections' review says officials had taken several steps since Hardin's escape, including removing the electric locks from the gates to prevent someone from walking out without an officer present. The report also calls for additional cameras after finding a blind spot on the dock Hardin used, and for any 'shakedown' searches for contraband to include mechanical rooms and side rooms.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Devil in Ozarks' planned prison escape for months, cited lax security in kitchen, report says
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A former police chief known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks' spent months planning his escape from an Arkansas prison, and said lax security in the kitchen where he worked allowed the convicted murderer to gather the supplies he needed, an internal review by prison officials released Friday said. The Department of Corrections' critical incident review of Grant Hardin's May 25 escape from the Calico Rock prison provides the most detailed description so far of his planning and the issues that allowed him to walk out of the facility. Hardin was captured 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of the Calico Rock prison on June 6. Authorities said he escaped by donning an outfit he designed to look like a law enforcement uniform. Hardin, who worked in the prison's kitchen, said he spent six months planning his escape and used black Sharpie markers and laundry he found lying around the kitchen to create the fake uniform, according to the report. Hardin fashioned a fake badge using the lid of a can. 'Hardin stated he would hide the clothes and other items he was going to need in the bottom of a trash can in the kitchen due to no one ever shaking it down,' the report says. Two prison employees have been fired for procedure violations that led to Hardin's escape. They include a kitchen employee who allowed Hardin on a back dock unsupervised and a tower guard who unlocked the back gate that Hardin walked through without confirming his identity. Several other employees have been suspended and one demoted, lawmakers were told this week. The kitchen's staff was 'very lax on security,' Hardin told investigators, allowing him to gather what he needed for his escape. Hardin said he didn't have any help from staff or other inmates. Hardin had constructed a ladder from wooden pallets in case he needed to scale the prison fence but didn't need it. '(Hardin) stated when he walked up to the gate, he just directed the officer to 'open the gate,' and he did,' the report says. After he escaped from the prison, Hardin survived on food he had smuggled out of the prison along with distilled water from his CPAP machine. Hardin also drank creek water and ate berries, bird eggs and ants. 'He said his plan was to hide in the woods for six months if need be and begin moving west out of the area,' the report says. Hardin, a former police chief in the small town of Gateway, near the Arkansas-Missouri border, is serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. He was the subject of the TV documentary 'Devil in the Ozarks.' The report is one of two reviews into Hardin's escape, which is also being investigated by the Arkansas State Police. A legislative subcommittee has also been holding hearings about the escape. Republican Rep. Howard Beaty, who co-chairs the Legislative Council's Charitable, Penal and Correctional Institutions Subcommittee, said the panel hoped to discuss both reports with officials at a hearing next month. Republican Sen. Ben Gilmore, who sits on the panel, said he didn't think the department's review took a thorough enough look at the systemic issues that enabled Hardin's escape. 'They have focused on the final failure instead of all of the things that led up to it,' he said. The report also cites confusion among corrections officials in the early stages of Hardin's escape about which law enforcement agencies had been notified, the report says. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. 'It is obvious there was a lot of confusion during the beginning stages of opening the command center and of notifications being made,' the report says. Hardin had been misclassified and shouldn't have been held at the primarily medium-security prison, according to the review. After he was captured, Hardin was moved to a maximum-security prison. He has pleaded not guilty to escape charges, and his trial is set for November. Hardin's custody classification hadn't been reviewed since October 2019, the report says. The Department of Corrections' review says officials had taken several steps since Hardin's escape, including removing the electric locks from the gates to prevent someone from walking out without an officer present. The report also calls for additional cameras after finding a blind spot on the dock Hardin used, and for any 'shakedown' searches for contraband to include mechanical rooms and side rooms.
The Hill
6 days ago
- The Hill
College behind bars: A Southern strategy that's working
I never imagined that some of my most meaningful work would take place inside prison walls — not as someone serving time, but as an educator working with the Virginia Department of Corrections to expand access to college for incarcerated students. And I can say with confidence: Virginia is getting this right. Across the South, and especially here in the Commonwealth, we are seeing a shift in how education is viewed behind bars. Virginia has become a leader in building real academic opportunities for incarcerated individuals. Through strong coordination, strategic partnerships, and a clear commitment to rehabilitation, the department has helped create college classrooms in spaces where many never thought they would exist. All students enrolled in our programs have already earned their GEDs. From there, students take on rigorous college-level coursework in fields ranging from business and the humanities to technical trades. Many are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Some have struggled in school their entire lives, yet now they are writing essays, completing assignments, and giving final presentations in environments that rely entirely on paper-based materials and in-person teaching, because most facilities do not permit technology. But what they lack in digital tools, these students make up for in determination and discipline. These programs work because they are built on structure, standards, and belief in the potential of people. Students aren't just attending class to pass time. They are earning associate degrees and nationally recognized career and technical education certificates. They are building new skill sets and rediscovering their self-worth in the process. The numbers speak volumes. National research shows that incarcerated individuals who participate in postsecondary education are significantly less likely to return to prison. Virginia's efforts reflect this. Our approach is not soft on accountability, but it's smart on outcomes. We are creating a clearer path from incarceration to contributing meaningfully to society. Much of this is made possible by the Second Chance Pell Grant program, which allows eligible students to attend college without bearing the financial burden. Through the Department of Corrections' support and coordination with institutions like Piedmont Virginia Community College, Southside Virginia Community College, and the University of Virginia, we have built a model that is both practical and effective. And we are still growing. My personal goal is to bring even more colleges into this work and deepen our impact statewide. I have had the honor of sitting in graduation ceremonies inside our correctional centers. I have seen men and women walk across the stage with pride while their families cheer them on. I have watched students train for fields such as HVAC and welding, earning credentials that have led to employment after release. These moments don't just represent academic achievement — they represent transformation, for the individual and for the community waiting for them outside. The Virginia Department of Corrections has created the foundation for this progress by fostering a culture that sees education as a part of reentry, not separate from it. By working across departments, supporting faculty, and removing unnecessary barriers, Virginia is modeling what successful prison education looks like. Still, we need to shift public perception. I often hear people question why someone who is incarcerated should get a college education. My answer is always the same: because it works. Education creates stability. Learning helps people grow and become contributors. And preparing someone for life after prison is always a better investment than preparing them for a return to it. I speak not just as an administrator, but as someone whose own academic journey came with challenges. Growing up with speech and hearing difficulties, I never found school easy. But college gave me structure, purpose, and the confidence to know I could succeed. Now I help ensure that the same opportunity exists for others, many of whom are making the most of it in the hardest environment possible. They are focused, respectful, curious, and committed. They know what's at stake. They show up early, ask questions, support their peers, and turn in their work on time. It's hard not to be inspired by that. This is not just theory. This is happening every day in our facilities. It's not perfect, but it's working. College behind bars is changing lives in Virginia and it's doing so because Virginia is laying the groundwork for second chances rooted in education. College behind bars is more than a concept. In Virginia, it's a strategy that is helping people rebuild their lives, strengthen their families, and return home with more than hope. They return with credentials, skills, and a renewed sense of purpose, and that benefits all of us.
NZ Herald
10-08-2025
- NZ Herald
Judge criticises Corrections for failing to provide information on offender Ivan Terry's upbringing
Days before the recent sentencing in the Wellington District Court, court staff requested that the Department of Corrections' probation services provide the equivalent of a cultural report, which would include Terry's personal history and his time in state care, noting the judge had directed the report, in addition to a pre-sentence report, nearly two months earlier. While the service routinely provides the courts with pre-sentence reports on offenders, cultural reports, ordered under section 27 of the Sentencing Act, describe an offender's background and family circumstances and how those factors may have played a role in the offending. It also looked at how a family or a cultural agency may be able to help in reducing the risk of reoffending. Last year, the Government ceased funding for the reports, citing a blowout of the legal aid budget. Judge Stephen Harrop ordered the Department of Corrections to provide a specific report on an offender, which it failed to do. A copy of Terry's four-page pre-sentence report, seen by NZME, made no mention of the 55-year-old's personal history or his time in state care, despite saying it had referenced its records and documents, which encompassed the man's background. It described his offending as serious. Terry's lawyer Chris Nicholls told the court that given his client's history, probation 'must know heaps' about him, but their report was 'a waste of words'. Instead, Nicholls had arranged for an alcohol and drug report so Terry could apply to attend drug rehabilitation. That report, which the judge relied on at sentencing, noted Terry's very dysfunctional upbringing, including being made a ward of the state at the age of 7. He was placed in many foster homes, where he was abused, the court heard. Understandably, the judge said, Terry had serious alcohol and drug issues as a result of trying to blot out the traumatic experiences. He didn't disclose further details, other than to say the report made for 'very sad' reading. Judge Harrop said if he'd relied on probation's pre-sentence report to tell him about Terry's personal circumstances, he'd have no idea about the terrible upbringing Terry had suffered. He said judges were aware and had regard to the fact that for those who'd been abused in state care, the state had caused the problem that led to them being in court in later life. The judge told Terry the abuse he suffered as a child wasn't his fault and the actions of adults in his life who were supposed to keep him safe were 'highly relevant to sentencing'. Having been made aware of Terry's personal circumstances, the judge granted a further 20% discount, resulting in an end sentence of 20 months' jail, with leave to apply for home detention. The judge said he hadn't been able to grant home detention because probation hadn't recommended it. Corrections' response 'disingenuous' In response to questions about the hearing, Corrections told NZME it had advised the judge both in court and in writing that it doesn't produce section 27 reports. Its pre-sentence report made sentencing recommendations to the court based on a range of information, including offending history, willingness to engage in treatment and domestic, employment and cultural circumstances. Brigid Kean, Corrections' general manager of communities, partnerships and pathways, said a probation officer assessed Terry as being unsuitable for a Hōkai Tapuwae report. Such a report was a cultural intervention that informed treatment pathways for Māori in prison and was similar to a cultural report. But Corrections agreed its report hadn't considered the possibility of an electronically monitored sentence, which it attributed to 'human error'. It has now reminded staff of the correct process to ensure this doesn't happen again. Nicholls described Corrections' response as 'disingenuous,' saying it appeared to hide behind bureaucracy. 'Their task is to reduce reoffending and to provide information to a judge that's relevant about a defendant, so the judge can make a decision about an appropriate sentence. But ultimately, the idea is to try to ensure the risk of reoffending is reduced,' he told NZME. Asked how he was providing information at sentencing about an offender's background without a cultural or a Hōkai Tapuwae report, Nicholls said he presented the court with sworn affidavits from his clients. Alcohol and drug reports also often provided useful background, but Nicholls said another senior Wellington judge had commented recently that defendants were requesting these reports, despite having no addiction issues. Nicholls said the judge made it clear there had to be a legitimate alcohol and drug problem for them to order a report. However, he said these should not be used in place of a cultural report. While he agreed there had been a wide variation in the quality of the cultural reports, they often provided real insights into why someone had offended. 'I'm a lawyer, I'm not a sociologist, I'm not a researcher, I'm not an anthropologist, and you need people with those skills sometimes to get to the bottom of what's truly happened with these people.' Catherine Hutton is an Open Justice reporter, based in Wellington. She has worked as a journalist for 20 years, including at the Waikato Times and RNZ. Most recently she was working as a media adviser at the Ministry of Justice.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jackley targets $525 million for prison spending
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota's top law enforcement officer, who sits on a task force examining where to recommend putting a new men's prison, is sharing the kind of price tag he wants to see: a cost that's notably different from a previous guaranteed maximum price as well as a fraction of what a recent consultant report recommends. Oglala Sioux Tribe sends measles alert after case in border county In February, South Dakota lawmakers voted down House Bill 1025, which would have appropriated money to build a new 1,512 men's prison in Lincoln County with a guaranteed maximum price of $825 million. The failure paved the way for Project Prison Reset and the consultant report which includes a recommendation to build a 1,728-bed replacement for the current penitentiary. The report also recommends building an additional prison or prisons and adding beds to the Sioux Falls Minimum Center. Per the report, this could all cost up to $2.1 billion. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, who sits on the task force, is targeting a price that's notably lower. 'I think there are several proposals out there,' Jackley said Tuesday. 'The ones that I'm more interested in fall in that $525 million range, 'cause again, for me this is about protecting not just the public, but the taxpayers.' That cost, Jackley says, would still pay for 1,500 beds. At the task force's most recent meeting, the group unanimously voiced approval to replace the current penitentiary. Still on Gov. Larry Rhoden's to-do list for the group is figuring out how big this facility should be and where it should go. 'We've got two meetings left before a special session,' Minnehaha County State's Attorney Daniel Haggar said Tuesday. 'I think it's important for us to address those questions that the governor has tasked us with. There's going to be a lot of conversation, and we've seen things can move slowly. They can also move quickly.' Haggar is also on the task force. As of Tuesday, he hasn't landed on a specific location. 'I'm not quite there yet,' Haggar said. 'I haven't ruled anything out.' As for Jackley, he says locations already within the Department of Corrections' orbit are possible. 'It could be utilizing existing facilities, and when I say utilizing existing facilities, that's Jameson, that's the Hill, that's Springfield,' Jackley said. 'It's areas that already exist so you don't have some of the community pushback.' The task force's next meeting is June 3 in Pierre. Eventually, the plan is for a special session of the state legislature to learn on July 22 about the group's recommendations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
