Arkansas Board of Corrections approves Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ pick of Lindsay Wallace for secretary of corrections

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Board of Corrections approved Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ pick of Lindsay Wallace for Secretary of Corrections in a special call meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Sanders announced Wallace’s choice for the role last Friday. Wallace, a UA William H. Bowen School of Law graduate, has been the chief of staff for the board of corrections since 2020.

At the time of her appointment, Wallace said that she was committed to working with stakeholders, the governor, the legislature and the Board of Corrections to fix the corrections system.

According to KARK 4 News reporter Samantha Boyd, one board member told Wallace after the vote that they would support her, provided she supported the board. This is notable in light of the conflict between the board and the former secretary Joe Profiri.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appoints Lindsay Wallace as Arkansas Secretary of Corrections

Issues came to light in November showing what was a growing conflict between the governor’s office and the board, leading to court filings that have initially gone in favor of the board.

The board and Sanders disagreed over the process for adding additional space in the state prison system, and then over who was in charge of Profiri’s employment and which corrections agencies reported to the board.

The court decision led to the board firing Profiri and appointing a temporary executive-in-charge to take his role. An additional court filing by Attorney General Tim Griffin disputed the board’s ability to appoint someone to this role, culminating in the appointee resigning and the governor’s appointment of Wallace last Friday.

Arkansas attorney general claims Board of Corrections broke law in interim appointment

Profiri has been hired by the governor’s office as a consultant.

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