April 2015 | Arkansas CURE | 501-519-0064 or 501-580-4857
Issue #2
2015 Arkansas Legislative Assembly
Arkansas Citizens In Prison Built This Capitol In Little Rock…
Construction took 16 years, from 1899 to 1915. The Capitol was
built on the site of the state penitentiary and prisoners helped
construct the building. They lived in a dormitory that was left on
the Capitol grounds while construction was taking place.
90th General Assembly - Regular Session 2015
Criminal Justice Related Laws Passed
Act 144, Allowing The Department Of Community Correction and
Department of Correction To Participate In A Private Sector Prison
Industry Enhancement Program. Goods produced by inmates
participating in private sector prison industry enhancement programs are
to be paid at least state minimum wage, (minimum wage requirement
does not apply to hobby/craft items produced by the inmates on their
own time, with their own resources, or to working in any other prison
industries program). Numerous wages set aside rules shall apply to
support dependent family, restitution requirements etc.
Act 146, To Allow For Administrative Transfer Of An Inmate In The
Department Of Correction To The Department Of Community
Correction. Under a set of specific guidelines a transfer to Community
Corrections from the Department of Correction can be made prior to
parole being recommended.
Act 220, To Require The Arkansas State Claims Commission To
Provide Specific Findings Of Fact And Conclusions Of Law To Support
A Final Adjudication For A Claim Considered By The Commission. A
claim filed by a person who is an Arkansas inmate exempted from the
requirements of this section.
Act 357, Concerning What Constitutes A Sex Offense In The Sex
Offender Registration Act Of 1997. Added a new section, Trafficking of
persons and Patronizing a victim of human trafficking.
Act 358, Concerning The Procedures Of Sex Offender Registration
And Verification; And To Make Technical Corrections. Changes made
concerning required days allowed for registration, address changes etc.;
majority of required reporting will now be made to the local law
enforcement agency.
[Continued Pg. 3]
Arkansas CURE has had
a MAKEOVER!
Arkansas CURE has been
around for quite some
time…since 1996 to be
exact. Since that time, the
chapter has been a viable
advocate for positive change
in prison and criminal
justice reform here in
Arkansas. In the past few
years, you may or may not
have noticed that there’s not
as much activity with the
group. Well….
We’re pleased and excited to
say… we have changed that!
A new website, a new
Facebook page, a new
address, a new newsletter, a
new outlook! A new year – a
NEW Arkansas CURE!
You will need the entire statute
passed for a comprehensive
understanding. The information
given is only a short highlight of
content.
2
A Place to Call Your Own:
The ABC’s of
Arkansas CURE
Alternatives to imprisonment
Ban the Box
Criminal Justice Reform
Do Away with the Death Penalty
End Registries
Family Education and
One of the unique things about the
Arkansas CURE website is the available BLOG. What’s a BLOG, you ask? Well,
it’s basically an online journal of sorts. And we’ve set it up JUST FOR YOU, our
members! So – here’s your official invite to SHARE. Send us your thoughts,
your stories, poems, artwork… whatever you’d like to share with the world!
Tell us what’s going on over there…share your thoughts and opinions on the
latest news….review a book you think others may enjoy… or just get creative
on your own!
We want to hear from you – and we want YOU involved with Arkansas CURE!
We’ve already received several stories, thoughts and art pieces to post. Below
is a drawing from JP. We split the photo (due to its size), to better show this
piece.
Integration
Good time credit
Human Rights
Information and Education
Job Training and Skill
Development
Know Your Rights
Legislative Reforms
Medical and Mental Health
Diagnosis and Treatment
Newsletter
Oversight for improvement
within the system
Public Perception
Quality Rehabilitation Programs
Restorative Justice
Stop the use of Solitary
Confinement
Telephone Cost Fairness
Unite Community Resources
Voting Rights
Well-being of the elderly
eXamine and Duplicate
Successful Programs
Youth Private Prison Elimination
Zero Life and Life without Parole
Sentencing
Great Job!! Thanks for sharing your talent with us!
[Laws Continued from Pg. 3]Act 895, To Be Known As The Criminal Justice
Reform Act Of 2015; To Implement Measures Designed To Enhance Public
Safety And Reduce The Prison Population; And To Declare An Emergency.
Allows the Department of Correction to contract with a private company for
services, adds residential burglary to the list of “felony involving violence”, creation
of a Legislative Criminal Justice Oversight Task Force to evaluate compliance of this
Act. Creation of the “Behavioral Health Access Legislative Task Force” to
ensure that persons in the criminal justice system who are in need of behavioral
health treatment have access to treatment. “Pay-for-Success “allows for
contracting of intervention services such as behavioral health, case management
and job placement. At least 120 days before release a prerelease and reentry plan
is to be developed and known to the inmate, 45 days prior to release eligible
Medicaid coverage will be requested and provisions are to be made for an AR.
identification card; or driver’s license. “Specialty Court Programs” are to be
created to include pre-adjudication, swift and certain accountability on probation
pilot program, DWI, drug, mental health, veteran’s, “HOPE”, “smarter sentencing”
courts and a mental health crisis intervention center (fees and eligibility vary
according to circumstances). A warrantless search may be conducted by any law
enforcement officer for a person on supervised probation or released on parole
upon a waiver agreed upon by such persons (failure to acknowledge and sign the
waiver makes the person ineligible for supervised probation or parole).A Parole
Board member shall have at least a bachelor’s degree . Any affirmative vote taken
by the 7 member Parole Board must be approved by 5 of the 7 members. Parole
eligibility procedures for an offense vary according to the date of the offense and
law at that time. Some offenses after the effective date of this act may allow for
consideration for a transfer from the Department of Correction to the Department
of Community Correction (offense, time served along with meritorious good are
considerations). [Continued Pg.4]
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[Laws Continued from Pg.1]
Act 376, Concerning Level 4 Sex Offenders Residing Near A
Church Or Other Place Of Worship. A 2000 ft. restriction from a
church or other place of worship. Certain exemptions apply pertinent
to offense date and current residency.
Act 393, Concerning Private Security Licenses, Private
Investigator Credentials, Private Security Agency Licenses,
School Security Officer And Security Officer Commissions, And
Polygraph And Voice Stress Analysis Examiner Licenses. The
Arkansas State Police is now in charge of licensing for these areas
requiring specific training which must be met.
Act 549, Pertaining To Placement In A Community Correction
Center. “Eligibility” or “eligible offender” means any person
convicted of a felony who is by law eligible for such sentence and who
falls within the population targeted by the General Assembly for
inclusion in community correction facilities or who is otherwise
under the supervision of the Department of Community Correction
and who has not been subject to a disciplinary violation for a violent
act or for sexual misconduct while in the custody of a jail or
correctional facility.
Act 608, Concerning The Use Of A Victim Impact Statement
During An Inmate's Parole Determination. Victim Impact
statement may be considered in determining parole. The impact
statement made is to be provided to the inmate unless circumstances
warrant it being withheld.
Act 609, Concerning Parole Rules And The Award Of Parole; And
To Make Technical Corrections. Increases Parole Board Authority.
Act 738, Concerning The Earning Of Meritorious Good Time
Credits By An Inmate In A Local Correctional Facility.
“Meritorious good time”, may be earned from his or her maximum
term while in a county or city jail.
Act 741, To Amend The Law Concerning The Commissions
Derived From Certain Prisoner Services. Commissions from
prisoner telephone service and commissary profits in the
various county and regional detention facilities in the state shall
be deposited in the county sheriff's office fund. (This section does
not apply to funds provided in DOC or DCC facilities or in detention
facilities with a population of 175,000 or more).
::MEMBER MENTION::
We’ve created a private Facebook group specifically for families in
Arkansas that have a loved one incarcerated.
Please let your family know about this opportunity to network and
connect. Ask them to find us on Facebook and join this safe group.
“The Incarcerated Family – AR CURE”
*********************
If you like this newsletter, do share. If you’re interested in joining
Arkansas CURE, please write us for more information today!
We’d love to have you on our side!
RESOURCES for YOU
Relationship Building
Wife and Inmate Connection
PO Box 7822
Pasadena, TX 77508
Write for more information, a
catalog, and to be placed on
their newsletter list.
Loved ones outside can email:
wife.inmate@yahoo.com
National Fatherhood
Initiative
20410 Observation Dr., St 107
Germantown, MD 20876
Part of NFI's mission to
disseminate educational
materials to the public and to
help men become better fathers.
Informative resources that
emphasize the importance of
fathers in their children's lives.
Please write for further info.
Social Justice/Health/Safety
Protecting Your Health &
Safety: Litigation Guide for
Inmates
Southern Poverty Law Center
P O Box 548
Montgomery AL 36101-0548
A manual to help inmates who
are not represented by an
attorney, explains the legal
rights that inmates have
regarding health & safety,
including the right to receive
medical care and the right to be
free from inhumane treatment.
It does not cover criminal
matters. Cost is $10, which
includes s&h. Payments may be
made by check or money order.
The complete manual is free of
charge on their website.
2
Arkansas CURE
PO BOX 11554
Conway, AR 72034
501-519-0064 or 501-580-4857
FAX: 501-470-9039
rehab4justice@yahoo.com
An effort to provide information on
criminal justice reform through
education and advocacy.
Find us on the Web:
www.arkansascure.org
Join Arkansas CURE on Facebook
Arkansas CURE
PO BOX 11554
Conway, AR 72034
[Laws Continued from Pg. 2]Act 951, Concerning The Application To
Terminate A Person's Parole Or Probation. When a person is eligible for
consideration for discharge, the prosecuting attorney or Parole Board may file
an objection which can result in forfeiture of the earned discharge-credit. The
person may file a petition for review in the sentencing court which will be
reviewed by the preponderance of evidence standard.
Act 973, To Provide For Extended Supervision For Certain Sex
OffendersWho Will Be Eligible For Parole, Released From Probation, Or
Will Be Released From The Arkansas State Hospital. Some sex offenders
may be subject to an extended period of monitoring only after notice of such
hearing and justification by a prosecuting attorney petition submitted to the
court of jurisdiction where the offense occurred.
Act 1096, Concerning The Administration Of A Lethal Injection At The
Department Of Correction. The drugs used and determined by the
Department of Correction for lethal injection are held not to be available
through the Freedom of Information Act.
Act 1258, An Act Concerning The Review And Approval Of Administrative
Rules And The Implementation Of Article 5, Section 42, Of The Arkansas
Constitution.The Board of Corrections shall publish in pamphlet form and post
throughout its institutions all rules, laws and regulations made with reference
to the conduct of the prisoners confined.
Act 1265, To Be Known As The Public Safety Transparency And
Accountability Act Of 2015; And To Declare An Emergency. Public access to
an inmate’s major disciplinary record while incarcerated along with risk
assessment information and numerous additional histories.