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| Inmate Transport Idea Draws Mixed Reaction |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 01/23/2006 |
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An idea to put the Wyoming Department of Corrections in charge of transporting almost all prisoners in the state drew mixed reaction from lawmakers last week. DOC Director Bill Slaughter and other officials have been weighing the idea for some time, but raised it again following last week's escape of accused murderer Dueston Haggard in the Helena area. Haggard, 28, used a key hidden in his shoe to unlock his shackles and escape through the hatch of a Cascade County transport van en route to the Montana State Prison. He was arrested nearly 15 hours later at a Helena motel, but only after a massive manhunt that involved the state and three counties and forced the lockdown of several schools. Currently, DOC transports about 47 percent of prison inmates in the state, with the U.S. Marshals Service, local law enforcement and private contractors comprising the rest, department spokesman Bob Anez told the Law and Justice Interim Committee. The department is considering taking over transports for the U.S. Marshals Service and bearing more of the transport load for local law enforcement, he said. DOC is already assuming control of transport services from private contractor TransCor America when its contract with the state expires on June 30. Slaughter has also advocated putting chase vehicles behind vans transporting dangerous inmates, and equipping the vans with global positioning units. He has said he'd also like to look into the idea of placing global positioning bracelets on inmates being transferred between prisons. Committee member Sen. Gary Perry, R-Manhattan, applauded the idea of using GPS technology, although Sen. Jim Shockley, R-Victor, called the entire proposition expensive and said the problem lies elsewhere. |
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