Baxter, Dallas Co. jails to keep inmate workers | News

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) - A state committee says the Arkansas Department of Correction will still assign inmate workers to the jails in Dallas and Baxter counties despite problems that turned up in recent investigations.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (http://is.gd/47l5H2 ) that an oversight committee voted Tuesday to allow the counties to still participate in a state program that allows inmates to be assigned to cities or counties to cook, cut grass and perform other chores.

In Baxter County, an investigation showed that inmates had made excessive phone calls and one of them had loaned money to a jail administrator, who was later fired. In Dallas County, the corrections department found several knives, cash and pornography during a search of the inmates and their living area at the jail.

Both counties say they've corrected the issues.

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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com

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