Arkansas officials released 300 inmates early from the state’s overcrowded prisons as a precaution during the coronavirus crisis.
Dexter Payne, head of Arkansas’ correction division, said Thursday during court testimony that there will be additional releases once inmates are screened and cleared by the Parole Board.
Payne testified in the ongoing federal lawsuit that 11 inmates brought against the Arkansas Department of Corrections. They allege that state prison officials have mishandled the coronavirus pandemic and put inmates at a higher risk of infection
The releases came after Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s April 20 directive to consider the early release of inmates imprisoned for nonviolent and nonsexual crimes.
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