Sheriff: County loses 309 inmate program

Attempts from Ouachita County officials to keep inmates from the Arkansas Department of Corrections 309 program have failed, Ouachita County Sherriff David Norwood told the Quorum Court last Tuseday night.

” We’ve lost the 309 program,” Norwood said, “It has nothing to do witht he Sherrif’s office it has something to do with another department and the department of corrections. I’ve done everything I can, and the Judge (County Judge Robert McAdoo) has too.”

Norwood said that due to the numerous services provided by 309 inmates their would be a financial burden on Ouachita county.

He said, “It could cost us close to $200,000. Right out of the starting block we’re losing $48,600, is what the state pays us to hold them. That’s not counting what they do for the county.”

Inmates had helped with the Daffodil Festival, South Arkansas Kennel Club Dog show and various other events in the past.

According to the ADC’s website, the 309 program, “Contracts throughout the state of Arkansas for housing and supervision of ADC inmates in county and city jails.

“Inmates convicted of capital murder, first-degree murder, sexual offense, or who have attempted escape, or are serving a life sentence or were given the death penalty are prohibited from serving in the program.”

According to the ADC, the 309 program increases the number of prison beds, reduces the cost of incarceration, and assists sheriffs with manpower while saving local dollars. It also places some inmates closer to their families, and heightens public relations with the counties.

Norwood said the dismissal of the program would have far reaching effects, ” A 79 cent washer that they go in and fix these toilets and showers with, it’s going to cost us an extra $200 to hire a plumber. The 309 knew how to work on them, because he learned how to work on them in prison.”

Ouachita County Judge Robert McAdoo stated, “This county is not going to turn its back on this community. This county is going to make sure that we take care of this community.”

Previously officials with the ADC told the Camden News, “The suspension stems from the hiring of a particular female employee by another office in the jail complex. Back in 2016, this woman was an employee at the detention center and was found to be having an inappropriate relationship with a male 309 inmate. In connection with that relationship, the woman pleaded guilty to furnishing an article of escape and was placed on ten months’ probation. Due to her past actions, we do not think it is wise to have her working in such close proximity to the 309 inmates. As you may know, some of them work outside the confines of the jail.”

Court documents show that in 2016 an inmate at Ouachita County Detention Center Joe Cook and Ouachita County Jail intake officer Nichole Ferguson “got into a physical altercation near the booking desk of the facility.

Ferguson did not want the inmate placed on lockdown, so investigators became suspicious of a relationship between them. Shortly after Ferguson resigned.

Investigators also found out that Ferguson took Cook to El Dorado and introduced him to friends as in inmate on furlough even though he did not have furlough privileges.

According to investigators, Cook left the facility four times with Ferguson.

Ferguson, now Nichole McKenzie, is listed on records as an employee of Ouachita County Juvenile court which is located at the Ouachita Detention Center headed up by Judge Edwin Keaton.

The Camden News spoke to Keaton who explained that the 309 Oversight Comittee provided an initial reason as to why the 309s were removed, but after a letter to the comittee, the 309s were returned. He has not heard a reason why the 309s were removed again in late December.

“I guess that’s the position they’ve taken,” Keaton stated. “I wrote a letter to the chairman (of the 309 Oversight Committee) on Nov. 26, I beleive. The 309s were here.”

Keaton explained that if the 309s were taken because ADC did not want them in close proximity to a particular employee then the reason for taking the program, “doesn’t make sense.”

“The 309s work all over the county,” Keaton shared. “There would be a chance for a 309 to run into that employee anywhere, so if that’s the reason it doesn’t make sense to me.”

“We might need to revisit our juvenile budget, there’s a possibility of going back to a contract,” McAdoo said at the Quorum Court meeting.

The judge said that Union or Columbia county programs might be used, but even then there will be a lapse in the program.

“It could take up to six months to a year to get the program back on its feet when the situation is finally resolved,” Norwood said.

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