Posted on: Friday, December 10, 2004

Inmate walks away from work program

Advertiser Staff

A 42-year-old inmate at the Women's Community Correctional Center walked away from a work furlough program Wednesday night and is considered an escapee.

Darlene Smith was on a work program that allowed her to be in the community from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., a Public Safety spokesman said. Smith worked at Goodwill Industries and attended AA meetings on Bethel Street after work, but she failed to return and at 10 p.m. Wednesday was declared an escapee, the official said.

Smith is not considered a threat to the community, he said. She was convicted in December 1998 on drug, theft and forgery charges and would have been eligible for parole in July 2005.

Anyone with information on Smith is asked to call the Department of Public Safety's deputy sheriffs dispatch at 538-5696 or 911.