Because of a backlog of Arkansas inmates in county jails, the state Board of Corrections last week voted to invoke the Emergency Powers Act to make up to 336 prisoners eligible for early parole hearings. The board acted on a report that 614 state prisoners were being held in county jails awaiting transport to a state prison unit.
In 2003, the Legislature expanded the act to allow the board to make nonviolent offenders who have served at least six months eligible for early parole when the county jail backlog of state prisoners exceeds 500.
The act also allows the board to grant parole hearings for state inmates when the prison population exceeds 98 percent of capacity for 30 consecutive days.
"This should give us some relief," state Prison Director Larry Norris told the board.
After last week's meeting, prison spokeswoman Dina Tyler said the decision by the board does not allow the 294 men and 42 women to go free. It allows them to receive an early hearing before state Parole Board.
Tyler said the 2003 law allows inmates serving time for nonviolent offenses to be eligible, and they must be within one year of parole. They also must be classified as well-behaved inmates.
Also during the meeting, the board approved a plan to use $7.5 million in salary savings from open positions for other needs within the prison system.
Norris said about $5.5 million of the money would be placed in the system's medical assistance account. The remaining $2 million would be used to meet a commitment both the Department of Corrections and the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections have made with state lawmakers to provide transitional housing for inmates that otherwise could not be released from prison.
Sheila Sharp, deputy prison director, said the $5.5 million should get the department through the end of the fiscal year. She said the department has had higher-than-expected medical costs this year, and is having to care for an older prison population.