Arkansas rehab facility becomes parolee transitional housing

GASSVILLE (AP) — The drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility OMART is now primarily serving as transitional housing for parolees released from the state prison system, according to the facility's board president Heith Hogan.

When OMART lost its state contract to provide rehab services, the facility was in danger of closing the doors.

The only patients the facility was getting were those who could pay, called "self-pay."

But, OMART had another revenue stream, one the facility has had since its inception, according to Hogan.

Approximately 10 years ago, OMART received permission to have 16 beds in the facility for parolees transitioning from prison back to society. That "grandfather clause," as Hogan called it, allowed the facility to increase the number of transition beds without a public hearing or permission from the city of Gassville.

In fact, Gassville city officials had no idea OMART had changed its clientele until approximately three months after the fact, the Baxter Bulletin reported .

Gassville Police Chief Tim Mayfield discovered the change when he went to OMART one day and was told by an employee only someone from Arkansas Community Correction could answer his questions.

"We started seeing people go over there for things other than drug and alcohol treatment. We saw them going over there for things like theft of property and other things," Chief Mayfield said. "We started trying to question that and basically, the door was shut in my face."

Hogan was asked why OMART didn't notify city officials of the change.

"If your question is, was this done to sweep it under the rug, the answer is no," Hogan said. "I think they (city officials) have a right to be upset but there was nothing on our part to intentionally try to hide this. The simple fact is we've always had transitional housing for years."

A meeting was set up with OMART, Gassville city officials, ACC, the Arkansas Department of Corrections, the Baxter County Sheriff's Office, state representative Jack Fortner and State Senator Scott Flippo.

During that meeting, OMART's Hogan explained the change to officials. As a result of the meeting, OMART officials gave law enforcement officials the ability to enter and search the facility should they deem it necessary.

Gassville Mayor Jeff Braim said he now feels comfortable with the information he has regarding how OMART is operating, comfortable enough to answer questions from the public.

The parolees who are housed at the facility must wear ankle monitors to allow officials to track them. Additionally, parolees must work and have a 10 p.m. curfew, according to Hogan.

Parolees stay for approximately 30 days and then are released from the facility. In certain cases, they can stay up to an additional 60 days, according to Hogan.

Those with questions regarding OMART should call OMART at 435-6200 and ask for director Darlene Prine, according to Hogan.

One change Braim still wants to see is the sign in front of the facility.

"If it's a duck, call it a duck. If it's a dog, call it dog," Braim said. "The sign should tell people what the facility is."