The Arkansas Board of Corrections voted unanimously Friday to recommend the release of 1244 inmates under the Emergency Powers Act pending a decision by the parole board.
The list of inmates being recommended for release is larger than usual due to the requirement that an inmate being in ADC at least six months has been suspended under Governor Asa Hutchinson’s executive order regarding the current public health emergency.
All inmates being considered have been convicted of crimes that are NOT sexual or violent in nature according to the recommendation.
In order for the inmate to be released, they must be granted early release by the parole board and have and acceptable parole plan.
The ADC stayed all inmates will receive COVID symptom screening and all systematic inmates will be tested for the virus.
No inmates known to have presumed positive will be released into the community until they are medically cleared. If positive, the board will continue to work with ADC to delay the inmate’s parole until the inmate is no longer contagious.