Ark. Republican calls for prison investigation (UALR Public Radio) - A former Republican gubernatorial candidates says Arkansas must launch an independent investigation into its state prisons.

In an interview with The Associated Press, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson says the review is necessary after revelations that an inmate nearly died after being left in a feces-smeared cell for a weekend.

Hutchinson said: "To think you don't need to have an independent look indicates a real staleness in the prison leadership." Hutchinson said he didn't know whether the current head of the Arkansas Department of Correction needed to be fired.

Hutchinson lost to Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe in the 2006 election. A spokesman for Beebe has said the governor has "full faith" in the prison director.

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