View the Listing of All Inmate Programs and Services
Act 309
| Description: | Contracts throughout the state of Arkansas for housing and supervision of ADC inmates in county and city jails. |
| Capacity: | Approximately 336 males or females |
| Requirements: | • Completion of 6 months in prison; • Class I or eligible for Class I status; • 90 days disciplinary free; • Capable of abiding by rules and regulations of the program; • Approved Medical Classification; • Within 45 months of his/her PE/TE date (if more than 45 months, prior approval must be obtained from all counties with active sentence; • No objection from victim(s); • No objection from Sheriff or Prosecuting Attorney from county of conviction; • Does not have an undisposed felony detainer (unless approved for transfer by agency filing the detainer; • Eligible inmates with more than ten years to their PE/TE date MUST be approved by the Director; • Any inmate convicted of kidnapping, a second or a subsequent offense of aggravated robbery, or criminal attempt to commit these offenses will be approved for 309-Jail Only, if approved for the program. Exclusions: Inmates convicted of capital murder, first degree murder, sexual offense, escape or attempted escape, or criminal attempt to commit any of these offenses, or are serving a life sentence or who are under sentence to be executed or any inchoate offense of one of the previous listed offenses. |
| Staff: | Central Office: 309 Division |
| Comments: | Increases the number of prison beds, reduces cost of incarceration, assists sheriffs with manpower while saving local dollars. Places some inmates closer to their families and heightens public relations with the counties. |
Advanced PAL (APAL)
| Description: | There is an Advanced PAL (APAL) program at Hawkins for Women that replaced the IFI program when Prison Fellowship discontinued it due to budget cuts. Advanced PAL is an 18-month pre-release program that combines pre-release with the PAL program. APAL was expanded to include the Ester Unit in 2017. |
Agriculture
| Description: | Allows inmates to be trained in work habits and allows them to develop marketable skills in the areas of farming, animal husbandry and vegetable, meat and milk processing and more. |
| Impact: | Approximately 3,706 inmates assigned annually |
| Requirements: | Completion of 60-day initial assignment and certain classification status |
| Staff: | ADC staff |
| Subcomponents: | • Aquaculture • Aviary • Beef cattle production • Butcher • Construction and maintenance (building) • Cotton production • Dairy operation • Distribution • Fruit and nut production • Furrier • Grain storage and drying • Greenhouse production • Hay production • Heavy equipment operation • Horse production • Horse trainer • Horticulture • Irrigation management • Laser aided land forming • Livestock feed manufacturing • Maintenance and repair of farm equipment • Meat processing • Milk processing • Pecan production • Poultry operation • Rice production • Soybean production • Swine operation • Vegetable processing • Vegetable production • Wheat production |
Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous
| Description: | Many of the programs offered through the Division of Correction are dependent on volunteers. Volunteers provide a communication channel with the community and help develop a support network for release. These programs operate at a minimal cost to the state and the facility, bring in positive and prominent role models, and provide linkages to the community. They generally take place after hours and do not disrupt facility operations. |
| Capacity: | Open |
| Impact: | 2,000 + individuals per month. Events put on by volunteers tend to attract high inmate participation and interest. |
| Requirements: | Volunteer |
| Staff: | Volunteer Coordinator |
| Subprograms: | • Alcoholic Anonymous • Cocaine Anonymous • Narcotics Anonymous |
Braille and Large Print Program
| Description: | The transcription of English textbooks into Braille for the Arkansas School for the Blind and enlarging the print of books for legally blind individuals across the State of Arkansas is a service offered by the Division of Correction. |
| Capacity: | 15 Inmates annually |
| Impact: | Wrightsville Unit |
| Requirements: | • 5 – 8 years left on sentence • GED or High School Diploma • 6 months Disciplinary free • Class I-C status • Demonstrates ability to learn, through self motivation, and work with limited supervision. |
| Staff: | ADC staff |
Career and Technical Education Program
| Description: | Job training programs developed and managed by Arkansas Correctional School District. |
| Capacity: | Approximately 45 females Approximately 300 male |
| Impact: | East Arkansas Regional Unit, Grimes Unit, McPherson Unit, North Central Unit, Ouachita River Correctional Unit, Pine Bluff Unit, Randall L. Williams Unit, and Varner Unit, and partnerships with Paws in Prison and the Cummins Farm |
| Requirements: | • Completion of 60 day initial assignment • No more than 50 months to TE date • No major disciplinaries within 60 days and no pending disciplinaries • Class I or II status • Able to perform the basic job skills and requirements |
| Staff: | Arkansas Correctional School District Staff |
| Subprograms: | Agricultural Equipment Technician, Barbering, Barber Instructor, Basic Residential Mechanics, Building Trades Basics, Building and Grounds Maintenance, Commercial and Residential Roofing, Computer Applications Technology, Computer Science, Cosmetology, Cosmetology Instructor, Heavy Equipment Operator, Food Service, Forestry Services, HVAC, Landscape Construction and Design, Maintenance Skills, Office Basics-Keyboarding, Pet Care and Management, Plumbing, Residential Carpentry, Residential Electricity, and Welding |
| Industry Recognized Certifications: | Programs offer an additional opportunity to earn an industry recognized certification including: American Welding Society, EPA 608 Refrigerant Handler, MSSC, NCCER Core and Craft, and ServSafe |
Chaplaincy
| Description: | Chaplaincy Service offers a variety of denominational/sectarian studies for various faith groups, correspondence studies, free world services held by volunteers, as well as Scripture/Language studies on various topics, special groups such as Kairos, Men’s Fraternity, RETO (Spanish ministry for Hispanic residents at Tucker), READ, Celebrate Recovery, Anger Resolution, Angel Tree (provides gifts to the children of inmates at Christmas), Christian Motorcycle Association, Character First, Sign Language, and other programs. Chaplaincy Services is also involved in offering higher education opportunities for inmates at Ouachita River Unit and East Arkansas Regional Unit through a partnership with Central Arkansas Baptist Bible Institute. Likewise Inc. is another higher education option being piloted at Tucker Unit wherein an inmate may pursue Associate’s Degrees in Humanities and Entrepreneurship. |
College Programs
| Description: | College courses are supported to provide inmates with an opportunity to obtain a college degree (an Associate of Arts Degree and higher) from a higher education institution. |
| Participating Colleges and Universities: | Subject to change at the discretion of the college/university. • Second Chance Pell Grant Pilot Program: – ASU-Newport – Shorter College – Southeast Arkansas College – Philander Smith College • Likewise College • Central Arkansas Baptist Institute (CABBI) • Self-pay: At the discretion of the college/university |
| Majors: | Subject to change • ASU-Newport: Welding • Philander Smith College: Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science Degree, Liberal Studies Bachelor of Arts Degree, Philosophy and Religion Bachelor of Arts Degree • Southeast Arkansas College: Associate of Arts Degree, Associate of General Studies Degree, and Certificate of General Studies • Shorter College: Associate Degree in Entrepreneurial Studies |
| Available Units: | Off-Campus on Unit Class Enrollment • Grimes (ASU-Newport) • McPherson (ASU-Newport) • Ouachita River (Shorter College and CABBI) • Tucker (Likewise and Philander Smith College) • Wrightsville Complex (Shorter College) • Pine Bluff Complex (Shorter College) • Cummins (Southeast Arkansas College) • Varner (Southeast Arkansas College) • Delta Regional (Philander Smith College) • East Arkansas Regional (Philander Smith College) |
| Correspondence on Unit Enrollment: | All Units |
| Requirements: | Eligibility requirements are set by the college/university |
| Staff: | ADC/ACSD Program Staff and College/University Staff |
| Subprograms: | Varies with Semester |
| Comments: | College courses have to be provided with ADC facilities for several years at a minimal cost to the state. College courses aid in developing a work ethic among participating inmates, which is essential to successful reentry. |
Construction and Maintenance
| Description: | Teaches and/or maintains construction and maintenance skills through on-the-job training. Used in conjunction as an apprenticeship with Vo-Tech. |
| Capacity: | Approximately 500 inmates daily system wide |
| Impact: | Approximately 1,800 inmates annually |
| Requirements: | Completion of 60 day initial assignment, appropriate security status and ability to learn a skill. |
| Staff: | ADC staff |
| Subprograms: | Carpentry, Masonry, Heating and Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Welding, Electrical, Heavy Equipment Operator, Concrete Finisher, Painter, Roofer |
Disciplinary Court
| Description: | Internal justice system for trying and punishing violations of rules and regulations of the Arkansas Division of Correction. |
| Capacity: | Open |
| Requirements: | All inmates are covered. |
| Subprograms: | Disciplinary Hearing, Counsel Substitute, Mental Health Assessment, Minor Disciplinaries |
| Comments: | Promotes individual responsibility and accountability for actions through a range of sanctions matched to seriousness of offense. Provides rational rules and consistent enforcement which has been missing in the background of many offenders. Increased isolation space will ensure that sentences from disciplinary court are served. |
Food Services
| Description: | Meal preparation for inmates and staff of the Department |
| Impact: | Approximately 13,000 meals prepared daily and approximately 1,400 inmates in the program annually |
| Requirements: | Classification approval |
| Staff: | ADC Food Production Personnel |
| Subprograms: | Food Preparation, Baking, Grilling, Cooking, Dishwashing, Serving Line, Steam Table Operation, Safety and Sanitation |
