The board of the Arkansas Department of Corrections Parole Division discussed releasing several hundred inmates early due to overcrowding utilizing the Emergency Powers Act.
During the most recent meeting, the board voted to approve a list of 387 male inmates eligible for immediate release over a three-month period to help alleviate the overcrowding.
Through the use of the Emergency Powers Act, the board is enabled to begin releasing inmates when the capacity exceeds 500 inmates or, per the executive order placed in March of 2020, if capacity exceeds 98 percent capacity.
In this case, capacity has exceeded 98 percent for a period of more than 30 days.
Inmates who are eligible for parole may then be released from the Department of Corrections prior to their scheduled release date.
Inmates eligible consist of Class I or Class II inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses.
During the February meeting, the board Chairman John Felts stated the male population stood at 100.4 percent capacity while the female capacity stood at 97.2 percent.
From February to March, it was reported capacity had increased to 103.1 percent in the state prisons and that the 98 percent capacity had been exceeded.
These numbers do not take into account those incarcerated in county jails waiting to be transferred to one of the state’s prisons.
Also discussed was paroling inmates from county jails. Felts noted these would be individuals with two years or less in sentencing and non-violent offenders.
This is not the first time the Emergency Powers Act has been put to use. Several hundred inmates were released in August of last year.
The board, as well as Governor Asa Hutchinson hope the overcrowding will be alleviated once the 498-bed addition to the North Central Unit near Calico Rock has been completed.
The multi-million dollar project is slated to be completed within the next three years.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
