The head of the Arkansas Department of Community Correction announced Monday he is retiring, as his agency faces questions about a parolee who was charged in a Little Rock murder.
The Department of Community Correction says Director David Eberhard’s retirement is effective immediately.
Corrections board chairman Benny Magness says he doesn’t know whether the abrupt departure is related to criticism over the recent case of a man on parole who was arrested for a Little Rock killing.
Magness also said he did not ask for Eberhard’s resignation, but was told by Eberhard that "this was his time."
The department is facing questions about Darrell Dennis, who was arrested for the May 10th death of a Fayetteville man in Little Rock.
Dennis had been on parole since 2008 despite several felony charges since his release.
In response to this, the Board of Corrections last month announced changes in its policies for convicts who are on parole.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this report.
