THV 11
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Correction’s old Diagnostic Unit in Pine Bluff will have a new name when it reopens. The Arkansas Board of Corrections approved the recommendation of naming the facility in honor of Cpl. Barbara Ester, who was killed by an inmate at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys on Jan. 20, 2012.
ADC sought the input of agency employees who overwhelmingly recommended the facility be named in honor of Ester, Shea Wilson, ADC public information officer, said. Director Ray Hobbs presented the recommendation to the board at Tuesday’s meeting and the board’s approval was unanimous.
The Diagnostic Unit has been closed since early 2012 when operations there were moved to the new special needs area, which was added to the Ouachita River Correctional Unit in Malvern. ADC did not have funding to operate both facilities and the decision was made to utilize the new space with the long-term goal of renovating and reopening DU with a new purpose.
Full story: Renovated prison facility to be named for slain officer