The relocation of about two dozen parolees from the soon to be closed Ozark Mountain Alcohol Residential Treatment facility in Gassville is underway.
Dina Tyler, Arkansas Community correction spokeswoman, said Friday while the process may not be completed, the effort to move the residents to other transitional housing centers in the state has begun.
The action follows word Thursday that OMART, now serving exclusively as a transitional housing center for parolees, is set to close on April 15th.
The chairman of the Arkansas Department of Correction’s board, Benny Magness of Gassville, told KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news OMART officials were notified in writing this week of the planned closure.
Magness says the action follows continued inspection issues at the facility. The issues included cleanliness and drug testing documentation. He added the drug testing itself had been conducted. Inspections are conducted every 30 days, with the last one completed March 22nd.
Magness says between 20 and 25 parolees were being housed at OMART when the order to close came.
OMART began as a drug and alcohol treatment facility and had been partially engaged in transitional housing with ACC for about 10 years. The move to a complete transitional housing facility began in 2017.
The facility had been licensed to house about 50 medium level male offenders.
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