Feds: Arkansas Parole Office Must Stop Drug-testing Samples
Robert Bell
July 8, 2008
KTHV
Federal regulators have ordered an Arkansas Department of Community Corrections office to stop testing parolees' urine for drugs because the state agency lacks a required laboratory certificate.
A letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, dated Friday, claims a Community Corrections office in Pine Bluff did the testing. They say the testing was followed up by treatment and counseling, something that requires the state agency to have a special certificate.
Rhonda Sharp, a Community Corrections spokeswoman, says the Pine Bluff office did not need the certificate. Sharp says the office takes urine samples from parolees to test for drugs. Sharp says the agency may hold a meeting Tuesday to discuss the letter and what actions it should take. | 
