Former Lonoke County inmate turns his life around with sheriff's office PACT program

LONOKE COUNTY, Ark. – A former Lonoke County criminal that has made a lifestyle change, hopes to help others with his story.

In January of 2016, working as an auto mechanic trustee for the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office, Jeff Hamrick made headlines for stealing a pellet gun, meth pipe and the phone he used to take photos.

After these acts, he made the decision to turn his life around after being accepted in the PACT program with the Lonoke County jail. 

PACT stands for 'Peers Achieving Collaborative Treatment' as they fight prison reentry.

"I had made a really bad name for the Lonoke County Sheriff's office in 2016," Hamrick said.

After being in and out of prison six times and having 25 felony convictions on his record, Jeff was ready to change his life. 

He has been clean from drugs for over a year and will graduate from the PACT program on May 25. 

It's going to be one of the first accomplishments that I've ever made in my life," Hamrick said.

Detective Tonya Soule with the LCSO says inmates spend 4 months behind bars and then they're sent to a recovery home.

Soule says the program has about a 70 percent graduation and success rate.

"It's not j...