By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — An independent investigation may be in order to get to the bottom of an escape by two convicted killers and other recent serious incidents in the state prison system, the state House majority leader said Monday.

Prison Director Larry Norris is scheduled to appear Tuesday before the Legislative Council’s Charitable, Penal and Correctional Institutions Subcommittee to answer questions about the prison break and other prison problems the Department of Correction and state police are investigating.

“I want to listen to what (the Department of Correction) has to say about these instances,” said Rep. Steve Harrelson, D-Texarkana, the Democratic majority leader. “If we feel the policies have not been followed, or policies are not sufficient, then we feel like there does need to be an investigation by an outside agency.”

Last month, two convicted murderers escaped from the Cummins Unit. They walked out of the prison wearing guard uniforms and got into a car left for them in the parking lot. The two were nabbed a few days later in New York state.

Also recently, a state prison parolee wanted for failing to meet with his parole officer was shot and killed near a check point at the Tucker Unit, and in January an inmate at the Tucker Unit was left lying naked in his own feces over a weekend and nearly died.

Prison officials also are looking into allegations that a nurse gave guards lap dances while on the job.

Gov. Mike Beebe has said he wanted an in-depth investigation of the prison system, and he said the prison system and state police were the appropriate agencies to do so.

Harrelson said he has no problem with the prison system and state police conducting parallel investigations, but an outside agency may be needed, depending on what is learned at Tuesday’s committee meeting.

“I want to find out if something needs to be changed or corrected,” he said.

Beebe said Monday he has not ruled out the possibility of a future outside investigation.

“At this juncture, the internal investigation by the prison and the external investigation by state police are all that we’ve called for,” the governor said. “I’d never preclude further action, but as we speak we’re waiting on the results of these investigations.”

Harrelson said some lawmakers on the subcommittee have suggested “full-scale firings,” but he said that was “probably a little premature.” Beebe has said he has not considered firing Norris.

“I think the Legislature wants to look at all the faces, access each on a case-by-case basis before any decisions are made,” Harrelson said.

Six corrections officers who were working at various posts along the route killers Calvin Adams and Jeffrey Grinder used to walk out of the Cummins Unit have been fired, and one has been suspended for five days.

Prison spokeswoman Dina Tyler has said department investigators have not found evidence correctional officers aided in the escape.

Two inmates suspected of helping Adams and Grinder escape face disciplinary action and possible criminal charges, she said. Three people were arrested for allegedly leaving the getaway car in the Cummins Unit parking lot.
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Reporter John Lyon contributed to this report.