In-Depth: Accused Killer Out on Conditional Release Program

There's new information about the man accused of intentionally killing a Jacksonville firefighter and injuring two others at an accident on Highway 161 last week.

Bryce Allen had been charged before with hurting a law enforcement officer but had been found not guilty because of mental disease or defect.

The current case against him is still under investigation and those we talked to couldn't speak to his case specifically

But Monday, we did learn more about the mental health program Allen was on before the tragic accident occurred.

"The purpose is to get them well because these people are sick," said Amy Webb, a spokesperson for the Department of Human Services.

Amy Webb with the Department of Human Services sat down Monday to explain the state's Act 9-11 or "conditional release" program.

If a suspect of a crime, she says, is found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect they're immediately taken to the State Hospital and treated until a team of doctors and a judge feel they're stable enough to be let out.

Bryce Allen was acquitted of punching a female UAMS police officer in the face and threatening to kill her. His treatment at the State Hospital for bipolar disorder in early 2011 lasted one month.

"Is a few weeks long enough to get someone well?" the reporter asked. "In some cases yes, each case is different," Webb said.

The next step, Webb says, is that some other facility will oversee their treatment. In Allen's case that facility was the North Little Rock VA hospital. DHS will monitor their progress.

"Our folks work hard to make sure they have the right support system and medications so they can be successful," Webb said.

But Allen's progress reports show some set-backs.

In May, 2011 a DHS monitor reported Allen cursing and hanging up on him.

In June 2011 he reportedly missed some dosages of his medications.

In October 2011, Allen allegedly missed more medication and had left the state without permission.

But Allen's criminal record hasn't been clear either. Since he left the State Hospital, Allen has been named in five Jacksonville police reports, including allegations he keyed an ex-girlfriend's car and shot a pellet gun at a relative.

Prior to his stay at the State Hospital, police reports say he sent a text message threatening to kill two people. That case is still pending in court.

But KARK found no formal request to have Allen's conditional release revoked.

"Is the system working the way it's set up right now to keep us safe in the best way possible" the reporter asked. I think it does, the 9-11s do well, from what I am seeing," said Margie Lickert, a prosecutor who handles these cases specifically.

Prosecutor Margie Lickert says they can only revoke a conditional release if there's a substantial risk of harm.

Of the 465 people in the state on the program, last year 20 of them were sent back to the hospital.

They do their best, Lickert says, to catch those people who are unsafe but the system's far from perfect.

"There are things that are going to come up that no one can foresee, unfortunately," she said.

Just because Allen was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in the previous case, does not mean a judge must rule the same in this recent incident in Jacksonville.

Of course, we'll continue to follow Allen through the court process and bring you more as it develops.