When Arkansas Board of Corrections (BOC) Chair Benny Magness said the situation between the board and Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri was “untenable,” he meant it. The Board on Thursday (Dec. 14) suspended Profiri for his actions related to adding prison beds.

In a letter dated Dec. 14 and directed to Gov. Sarah Sanders and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, Magness noted that Profiri is on “indefinite leave with pay pending further order of the court or decision of the Board. In the meantime, please understand that Mr. Profiri is prohibited from entry onto any property operated, owned or leased by the Arkansas Board of Corrections or its subordinate departments and division excluding his state-provided housing. Mr. Profiri is also barred from accessing any Board technology resources. In the event Mr. Profiri disobeys this directive, the matter will be referred to appropriate law enforcement.”

In a Nov. 20 letter to Sanders and Griffin, Magness chastised the two about going public with the prison bed dispute instead of working together on a solution.

Arkansas Board of Corrections suspends Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri (Updated)