Arizona corrections chief: State moving some inmates from private prison where escape occurred

Ariz. official: State didn’t detect prison flaws

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Corrections is transferring more than 100 inmates from a privately operated state prison where three inmates escaped July 30.

Corrections Director Charles Ryan says the transfers to other prisons result from tighter restrictions being imposed on which inmates can be assigned to the prison’s minimum- and medium-security units.

The three escaped convicts from the medium-security unit in Kingman included two convicted of murder. Authorities have linked some of the escapees to the killing of an Oklahoma couple.

Ryan also says the prison had numerous security flaws that the department’s security reviews didn’t detect. Those included a faulty alarm system and poor operational practices that led to unstaffing of a perimeter post.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona officials plan to release a report on security at a privately operated state prison where three inmates, including two convicted of murder, escaped on July 30.

The state Corrections Department says it will release the report Thursday.

Two of the three convicts have been recaptured, but one remains at large along with a woman accused of aiding the escape by tossing wire cutters into the prison.

Authorities have linked the escapees to the killing of an Oklahoma couple whose bodies were found in New Mexico.

The prison in Kingman is operated by Management and Training Corp. of Centerville, Utah.