Board of Corrections Chairman discusses Hardin escape from Calico Rock prison

Last Thursday, Gassville’s Benny Magness, the Chairman of the Arkansas Board of Corrections, spent the afternoon answering questions from the Charitable, Penal and Correctional Institutions Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council about the escape of Grant Hardin May 25 from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock. Hardin used a disguise to escape the prison and avoided capture for 12 days causing fear for many area residents. The 56-year-old former law enforcement officer was apprehended about 1.5 miles from the prison along Moccasin Creek.

Magness says it was the failure to follow policy by two employees that led to Hardin’s escape.

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Those two employees have been terminated.

Magness explains how Hardin made his clothing look like a police uniform during his escape.

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Magness says although this was human error that led to Hardin’s escape, after reviewing what happened, he believes there is one thing they need to do to help prevent something like this from happening again.

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Magness says he was asked at the meeting last week if this is a systemic problem throughout the unit. He says he knows it’s not.

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Magness has been on the Board of Corrections 26 years, spending the last 22 as the Chairman. He is also a former Sheriff of Baxter County, spending 22 months in that position in 1995-96.

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