Overview

• Grant Hardin spent six months planning his May escape, using black Sharpies, discarded laundry and a can-lid badge hidden in an unchecked kitchen trash can to impersonate law enforcement.
• The critical incident review pinpointed lax kitchen oversight, a camera blind spot on the back dock and unverified gate access, leading to the firing of two prison employees and disciplinary action against others.
• Officials found Hardin’s custody classification had not been reviewed since October 2019 and was unsuitable for a medium-security prison, prompting his transfer to the Varner SuperMax facility.
• The review recommends replacing locks, installing additional surveillance cameras, switching inmate apron colors and expanding shakedown searches to address identified security gaps.
• Parallel investigations by the Arkansas State Police and a legislative subcommittee are underway as Hardin pleads not guilty to escape charges and prepares for a November trial.