Panel questions state prison's use of salary savings
Source: Rob Moritz, Arkansas News Bureau, Jan 13, 2006
LITTLE ROCK - A legislative committee Thursday questioned the state Department of Correction's use of $8 million in salary savings from open positions for other needs within the prison system. Prison officials went before lawmakers seeking permission to take the money from the agency's regular salaries account. Prison Director Larry Norris said about $5.5 million of the money would be placed in the system's medical assistance account. ..... Two prison units in Newport, the Grimes Unit and McPherson Unit, were managed by the Wackenhut Corrections Corp. of Coral Gables for several years, but management problems forced the state to retake control, the prison director said. "We've tried it and it did not work," Norris said. "In my opinion, they can't do it better for less."