Hutchinson names new prison boss, appoints NWA men to commissions

Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson announced Wendy Kelley as the new director of the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC). Kelley is the chief deputy director of ADC, a position she has held since January of 2014. She is the first female to hold the role of ADC director.

Prior to that, she served as the deputy director for Health and Correctional Programs from 2006 to 2013. The ADC was also one of her major litigation clients during her time at the Attorney General’s office.

Kelley is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. She earned her law degree from the William Bowen School of Law in Little Rock.

“Wendy has shown remarkable leadership in her current role as Chief Deputy Director of the Arkansas Department of Correction,” Hutchinson said. “Her leadership capabilities, in addition to the experience and knowledge she possesses having worked at ADC – not to mention the years she’s spent working alongside the department – make her the ideal choice for this time of change and challenge within the Department of Correction and I know she will lead the department with skill and integrity.”

Kelley will have her hands full in the upcoming legislative session, which starts Monday, Jan. 12.

Prison officials are dealing with major overcrowding issues and potential reforms centered around sentencing and paroles.

In late November, Arkansas lawmakers received a report from the Bureau of Legislative Research that outlined 8 potential options to curb prison overcrowding, including a $231 million new prison bond issue, hiring a private prison firm, and alternatives to drug sentences and re-entry programs.

About 2,500 state prisoners are backed up in county jails costing the state money and stressing county budgets. More than 17,000 prisoners are currently housed in state prison facilities.

The recommendations included:
• Construct a 1,000 bed maximum security prison using a 30-year “wrap-around” bond issue estimated to cost $231 million (including principal and interest), excluding annual maintenance and operations expenses. The debt service would be covered by raising car tag decals by $2 annually.

• Review the successes and failures of Act 570, which altered sentencing guidelines.

• Mitigate longer sentences utilizing correctional interventions and re-entry programs.
Consider using abandoned school buildings across the state rather than new construction to expand re-entry programs.

• Enlarge and expand the existing drug court program.

• Consider a private corrections management service provider that purports to have a lower per-inmate daily cost.

• Expand the Smarter Sentencing program in order to mitigate longer sentences.

• Consider funding the increase in the Arkansas Community Correction transitional beds program.

State lawmakers have said they intend to pursue alternatives to building a new multi-million dollar prison facility.

Hutchinson also announced three appointments he plans to make once he’s sworn in next week. One appointment is a re-appointment.

Hutchinson said he would reappoint Jim Von Gremp of Rogers to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees.

He said he plans to appoint Philip Taldo of Springdale to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) and Neff Basore of Bella Vista to the Arkansas State Police Commission.

Hutchinson made the announcement at a regional BBQ inaugural party in Rogers on Monday night (Jan. 5). He will be holding similar regional events in Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and El Dorado this week.

A spokesman for the Governor-elect said to expect more announcements throughout the week as Hutchinson travels throughout the state.