Prisoners rarely exit low-security centers

IDAHO FALLS (AP) - About three to four inmates a year walk away from low-security work centers in the state, an official with the Idaho Department of Correction says.

Kevin Kempf, community work center division chief with the department, said the centers house low-risk offenders, and most work-release prisoners are nearing eligibility for parole and are willing to follow program rules.

"Every time we have a walkaway, it just shows a whole level of stupidity (by the inmate)," Kempf told the Post Register. "They make a split-second decision to leave, and within hours they regret it."

Kempf said two prisoners this year have walked away from the Idaho Falls Community Work Center, one from a Boise facility, and one from the Pocatello women's community center.

Kempf said most "walkaways" are back in custody within 24 hours, but one who left the Idaho Falls facility on July 3, Joe Dee Stang, remains at large.

"Fortunately, we don't have a lot of these (escapes), and typically we get them back right away," Kempf said.

The other inmate who walked away from the Idaho Falls facility is Zach Fullmer, who left in April and was recaptured the next day.

Typically, Kempf said, once recaptured the walkaways are transferred to a higher security prison and time is added to their sentence.

Lt. Laurie Abbott of the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office said the Bonneville County Jail work release program sometimes has instances where an inmate doesn't return on time from a four-hour pass.

Abbott said warrants are issued if a missing prisoner can't be quickly located.