Lysbeth
09-03-2003, 12:41 AM
Arkansas corrections board might free 860 inmates
By Douglas Pils, The Associated Press
August 30, 2003
LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Board of Corrections invoked both of the state's emergency powers acts on Friday, a move that could give up to 860 inmates an early release from prison to ease overcrowding.
Dina Tyler, spokesman for the Department of Corrections, said under the standard emergency act, about 560 inmates who are within 90 days of their release date may go home early.
That version of the act has been invoked every 90 days since November 1998.
Under a new state law passed by the Arkansas Legislature this year, the board can also invoke an expanded version of the act when the prison backup reaches 500 inmates. Tyler said the backup is at 1,220 inmates.
As such, the board approved the release of approximately 300 nonviolent offenders who are within a year of their parole date.
"They have to be the best-behaved inmates, and they can't be doing a sentence for methamphetamines," Tyler said. "If they're doing a 70 percent sentence, they can't go."
Tyler said inmates who fall under the old act will start earning their releases as soon as their parole hearings come up, while those on the expanded list won't have their hearings until the end of September.
Tyler said all eligible inmates still have to receive parole from the board and have an acceptable parole plan to be released.
"Some of those will not be able to go home because they won't make parole," Tyler said. "It's not going to be us opening the gate and 800 inmates walk out at once."
The board needed to invoke both acts because the prison population has been growing faster than projections. Tyler said the board projects a growth of 40 per month, but the rate is up to 94 per month.
"There's 94 more coming in each month than are going home," Tyler said. "We hope as we near the end of the year, the growth will slow. If it doesn't, we'll be in a mess."
By Douglas Pils, The Associated Press
August 30, 2003
LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Board of Corrections invoked both of the state's emergency powers acts on Friday, a move that could give up to 860 inmates an early release from prison to ease overcrowding.
Dina Tyler, spokesman for the Department of Corrections, said under the standard emergency act, about 560 inmates who are within 90 days of their release date may go home early.
That version of the act has been invoked every 90 days since November 1998.
Under a new state law passed by the Arkansas Legislature this year, the board can also invoke an expanded version of the act when the prison backup reaches 500 inmates. Tyler said the backup is at 1,220 inmates.
As such, the board approved the release of approximately 300 nonviolent offenders who are within a year of their parole date.
"They have to be the best-behaved inmates, and they can't be doing a sentence for methamphetamines," Tyler said. "If they're doing a 70 percent sentence, they can't go."
Tyler said inmates who fall under the old act will start earning their releases as soon as their parole hearings come up, while those on the expanded list won't have their hearings until the end of September.
Tyler said all eligible inmates still have to receive parole from the board and have an acceptable parole plan to be released.
"Some of those will not be able to go home because they won't make parole," Tyler said. "It's not going to be us opening the gate and 800 inmates walk out at once."
The board needed to invoke both acts because the prison population has been growing faster than projections. Tyler said the board projects a growth of 40 per month, but the rate is up to 94 per month.
"There's 94 more coming in each month than are going home," Tyler said. "We hope as we near the end of the year, the growth will slow. If it doesn't, we'll be in a mess."