Arkansas Republicans respond to termination of corrections secretary

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK/KAIT) – State Republican lawmakers shared their responses after the Arkansas Board of Corrections voted to fire Secretary Joe Profiri.

Profiri was fired on Wednesday, Jan. 11 with the board citing lack of communication as the reason for his termination.

According to our content partner KARK, Republican lawmakers said the dismissal will impact the entire state unless changes are made.

Sen. Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett) sponsored the Protect Arkansas Act in the most recent session, which aimed to add more prison beds across the state in an attempt to expand prison capacity.

Gilmore said while the state needs to wait until legal battles play, GOP lawmakers are considering some prison-related legislation during the fiscal session, and possibly in another special session.

“It’s disturbing. Frankly, it’s disgusting to me that they would fire someone who was merely trying to implement many of the reforms needed,” Gilmore said.

Profiri was offered a senior advisor position in Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sander’s Office following the board’s decision.

For more on this story, visit KARK’s website.

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