LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas lawmakers are demanding answers after a convicted murderer and rapist, Grant Hardin, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock in May. The incident has exposed widespread protocol failures, security loopholes and technological flaws in the Department of Corrections’ classification and gate systems.
Hardin, whose classification as a medium-security inmate has now been confirmed as a mistake dating back to 2018 or 2019, should have been held in a higher-security facility. The Arkansas Division of Corrections (DOC) admitted that a failure in the automated classification system led to Hardin being improperly housed. Officials say no manual override was used to correct the misclassification, despite his violent criminal record.
“The inmate that escaped should have been a C5 classification,” said Sen. Tyler Dees during the hearing. “Without override, Hardin should not have been there.”
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Hardin reportedly escaped through a rear gate near a prison tower. A guard was stationed nearby, but no immediate alarm was raised…