Paper Plate Escape: The Prison Break that Broke the System

Monday, January 1, 1979, was a pivotal day in the history of the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC). It started out like any other day inside a prison. It ended with a total take-over of the maximum security building that housed the worst of the worst inmates in Arkansas, including some on death row. Officers were assaulted and hostages were taken inside the building. Outside, 10 inmates scaled the fence and led officials on a 14-hour chase that ended in the capture of all escapees. But that's not the end of the story. What happened next would change the course of corrections in Arkansas for decades to come.