View the Listing of All Inmate Programs and Services
Reduction of Sexual Victimization Program (RSVP)
Description: | The focus of RSVP is treatment of male inmates who have committed sexual offenses. All programs utilize cognitive-behavioral therapy in an attempt to reduce maladaptive thinking errors and increase appropriate behavior once released. |
Capacity: | Bed space for 238 males at the Ouachita River Correctional Unit |
Impact: | Treatment of male sex offenders system wide |
Requirements: | Male inmates with a sex offense or with a history of sexual behavioral problems with sufficient time remaining on their sentence to complete prior to release |
Staff: | Mental Health |
Subprograms: | Relapse PreventionCognitive/Behavioral TreatmentInterpersonal CommunicationRelationship Skills Building |
Comments: | Residential program for males lasting approximately 3 to 6 months |
Religious Services
Description: | Worship services, religious materials, counseling and emergency services |
Capacity: | Open to all inmates |
Impact: | System wide |
Requirements: | Appropriate behavior |
Staff: | ADC religious staff Various denominational staff Volunteers and outside community |
Subprograms: | Various Denominational servicesReligious RevivalsPastoral CounselingReligious EducationFamily Program and Death NotificationRamadan, E’id FeastsPAL ProgramFaith Based Programs |
Comments: | Free worship services are offered weekly at units in conjunction with quarterly revivals and special outreach programs (Kairos, Christian Motorcycle Association, IBLP Basic and Advanced Seminars, etc.) All facilities have a chapel area where services are held. |
Restrictive Housing Anger Management Treatment
Description: | A 6-month anger management treatment program for inmates who have displayed issues in regulating their anger control while incarcerated and are housed in restrictive housing |
Capacity: | Treatment lots for up to 40 inmates at the Cummins Unit |
Impact: | System wide for facilities with restrictive housing units |
Requirements: | A pattern of anger control problems in the correctional setting that has resulted in disciplinary infractions and housing in restrictive housing |
Staff: | Mental Health |
Program Components: | Cognitive Behavioral TreatmentProgram is Composed of 3 Areas:Social Skills TrainingAnger Control TrainingMoral Reasoning |
Comments: | The goal is to help the inmate population manage their anger in more socially acceptable ways in order to be able to return to the general population setting. |
Restrictive Housing Step-Down Program
Description: | Multi-phase program that involves a coordinated and multidisciplinary team approach to assist in reintegrating inmates into general population housing or into the community from a restrictive housing assignment |
Capacity: | Varies by unit |
Impact: | Inmates assigned to restrictive housing |
Requirements: | The Classification Committee can place an inmate who has been in extended restrictive housing into the step-down barracks if he/she cannot be returned directly to general population from a restrictive housing assignment. The Classification Committee can consider inmates who have spent fewer than thirty days in restrictive housing (those not meeting the definition of extended restrictive housing) for this program when appropriate. A Step-Down Program can be part of an inmate’s reentry or release plan. |
Staff: | Multidisciplinary staff as determined by the Warden |
Sex Offender Female Treatment Program (SOFT)
Description: | The focus of SOFT is treatment of female inmates who have committed sexual offenses. All programs utilize cognitive-behavioral therapy in an attempt to reduce maladaptive thinking errors and increase appropriate behavior once released. |
Capacity: | Up to 30 females at the McPherson Unit |
Impact: | Treatment of female sex offenders system wide |
Requirements: | Female inmates with a sex offense or with a history of sexual behavioral problems with sufficient time remaining on their sentence to complete prior to release |
Staff: | Mental Health |
Subprograms: | Relapse PreventionCognitive/Behavioral TreatmentInterpersonal CommunicationRelationship Skills Building |
Comments: | Residential program for females lasting approximately 3 to 6 months |
Sheltered Living Unit
Description: | Accessible secure housing in close proximity to medical care for monitoring of medical needs for the elderly, chronically ill, and/or for inmates recovering from acute illnesses. |
Capacity: | Approximately 120 male inmates annually |
Impact: | Approximately 200+ inmates annually at Diagnostic Unit and Jefferson County Jail Correctional Facility |
Requirements: | Assignments are made by Medical staff, Must abide by unit rules |
Staff: | Medical, Mental health, Security personnel |
Subprograms: | Medical/Medication ManagementIndividual CounselingPlacement Referrals as necessary |
Special Needs Unit
Description: | A residential treatment facility for mentally ill inmates in the ADC. This program is utilized to evaluate, stabilize and return inmates to general population. The design of the program offers diagnostic evaluations, mental health treatment, specialized housing, and work supervision for inmates with mental health problems/illnesses. |
Capacity: | Approximately 66 males at the Diagnostic Unit Approximately 11 females at the McPherson Unit |
Impact: | Acute/chronic Mental Health inmates system wide |
Requirements: | Referral by Mental Health Services Referral by ADC Administration Referral by ADC Security |
Staff: | Mental Health Services |
Subprograms: | Mental Health Assessment EvaluationsMedication Management/TrainingIndividual and Group CounselingPsycho-Educational GroupsTreatment PlanningTutorial Programs for LiteracyTransition and/or Release Planning and Referral |
Comments: | Will expand when the Wrightsville Unit’s 200 bed facility for women opens, and Ouachita is completed. |
Substance Abuse Therapeutic Community Program (T.C.)
Description: | A 9-to-12 month residential substance abuse treatment program using a modified therapeutic community model |
Capacity: | Total capacity of 224 treatment beds at the Tucker Unit, the Wrightsville Unit, and the McPherson Unit |
Impact: | System wide |
Requirements: | Individuals must be on the active waiting list and are considered for transfer and entry when bed space is available. Entrance is based on next eligible individual on the waiting list. |
Staff: | Substance Abuse Treatment Staff |
Subprograms: | Chemical Dependency/ Pharmacology ClassesEncounter Group TherapyRelapse InterventionAddiction/Criminal Thinking ReductionReality TherapyFocus GroupsIssue GroupsPro-Social DevelopmentRational Emotive Behavior Therapy GroupsJournaling |
Comments: | Approximate 9-to-12 month residential program |
Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP)
Description: | A 4-to-6 month residential treatment program, based on cognitive/reality therapy of treatment for chemical dependency utilizing a modified therapeutic community |
Capacity: | Total capacity of 563 treatment beds at the Grimes Unit, the McPherson Unit, the Randall L. Williams Unit, the Tucker Unit, the Varner Unit, and the Wrightsville Unit |
Impact: | System wide |
Requirements: | Individuals must be on the active waiting list and are considered for transfer and entry when bed space is available. Entrance is based on next eligible individual on the waiting list. |
Staff: | Substance Abuse Treatment Staff |
Subprograms: | Chemical Dependency/Pharmacology ClassesEncounter Group TherapyRelapse InterventionAddiction/Criminal Thinking ReductionReality TherapyFocus GroupsIssue GroupsPro-Social DevelopmentRational Emotive Behavior Therapy GroupsJournaling |
Comments: | Approximate 4-to-6 month residential program |
Suicide Prevention Program
Description: | Provides training to new correctional officers and annually to all correctional officers, in order to identify and monitor inmates at risk of self-harm behavior. Provides assessment of inmates who have displayed self-harm behavior and care for inmates as deemed appropriate. |
Capacity: | Open to inmates as deemed appropriate. |
Impact: | System wide |
Requirements: | Inmates who are experiencing a mental health crisis and are threatening or displaying harm to themselves |
Staff: | Mental Health Staff and Correctional Officers |
Subcomponents: | Intake Screening/AppraisalReferrals by ADC StaffRoutine contact by Mental Health |
Comments: | ADC endeavors to assess and monitor inmates who have displayed self-harm behavior in an effort to prevent further self-harm. |
Think Legacy
Description: | The Think Legacy Program is voluntary program that inmates can sign up for when they are 6 to 18 months from their release date. Think Legacy Reentry provides housing of like-minded individuals that are about to transition back into communities as returning citizens. The Think Legacy Program focuses on “key” core areas that are evidence based and will assist them with Employment Readiness, Community Resources, Social Skill Readiness, Mentoring, Cognitive Behavior Awareness through “Thinking for a Change,” Victim Impact, Budgeting, Life Skills, Healthy Relationships and Family Reunification. |
Capacity: | 619 Bed Assignments (statewide) |
Impact: | Delta Unit Varner Unit Cummins Unit Ester Unit Wrightsville Unit Wrightsville Hawkins Unit Tucker Unit Tucker Women’s Reentry Unit Ouachita River Unit McPherson Unit Grimes Unit North Central Unit East Arkansas Regional Unit |
Requirements: | Completion of an Application and Acceptance by Program Facilitators or Classification Committee Class II or above Within 6-18 months release date Signed agreement to program rules All parole board stipulations have been met Teachable attitude |
Staff: | ADC Staff Facilitators, Citizen Volunteers, Non- Profits, State-Agencies, Reentry Coalition Members and Think Legacy Graduate “Peer Mentors” instruct the 24-week curriculum. The Think Legacy Reentry Program design relies heavily on citizen volunteers and professional ADC staff members to teach and facilitate best practice curriculum. |
U.N.I.T.Y. (Anti-Gang) Program
Description: | U.N.I.T.Y., which stands for yoU aNd I helping Teen Youth, is an inmate-supported intervention program. The program seeks to encourage inmates to take responsibility for their actions and break their lifestyle of gang affiliation. After the inmates make this transition, they become role models to other inmates as well as to juveniles involved in a lifestyle of gang affiliation. |
Capacity: | Approximately 20 – Maximum Security Unit (MSU)Approximately 30 – Varner UnitApproximately 30 – East Arkansas Regional Unit (EARU) |
Impact: | MSU, Varner, and EARU |
Requirements: | Participation is by inmate request, referral, or screening (at all units). |
Staff: | Inmate Mentors, Unit Staff, and Citizen Volunteers (at all units) |
Vocational Education Program
Description: | Job skills training programs developed and managed by Riverside Vo-Tech and funded through the Department of Workforce Education. | Welding Program at Varner Vo-Tech![]() |
Capacity: | Approximately 695 males. Approximately 147 females. | |
Impact: | East Arkansas Regional Hawkins McPherson Unit Ouachita River Correctional RLW Tucker Unit Varner Unit Wrightsville (ACI Coop Programs) | |
Requirements: | Completion of 60 day initial assignment Security status appropriate for assignment Have 13 months remaining for TE date and no more than 48 No disciplinaries within 60 days of application to Vo-Tech, No life sentence Meets requirements of Riverside VoTech Class II | |
Staff: | ADC Staff | |
Subprograms: | Automotive Body RepairAutomotive MechanicsBuilding / Grounds MaintenanceCabinet MakingCombination WeldingComputerized AccountingComputer RepairCosmetologyDrafting TechnologyFarm / Diesel MechanicsFood Service TechnologyHeating, Ventilation, A/CHorticultureOffice TechnologyPlumbingResidential CarpentryResidential ElectricitySmall Engine RepairDigital Imaging (Coop)Furnitire Repair (Coop)Graphic Arts (Coop)Upholstery (Coop) |
Volunteer Services
Description: | Various programs and services are offered within Arkansas Department of Correction facilities through the work of volunteers. These volunteer-led programs and services focus on improving inmates; spiritually, mentally, and physically. |
Capacity: | Varies with each program |
Impact: | All eligible inmates |
Requirements: | Varies with each program |
Staff: | Volunteer Services Coordinator and Volunteers |
Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy (WAGETM)
Description: | WAGETM is a work readiness program administered by the Adult Education Division of the Arkansas Department of Career Education. The program is designed to ensure that unemployed and underemployed Arkansas have the skills necessary to be successful in the workplace. WAGETM includes 112 basic skills competencies based on the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) which have been determined as essential by the nation’s and Arkansas’ employers. |
Work Release Program
Description: | Participants learn technical and work skills that are transferable to outside labor markets. These job assignments instill both work/employment skills, as well as, work ethics. |
Capacity: | Open to all eligible inmates |
Impact: | Approximately 4000 individuals annually system wide |
Requirements: | Completion of 60 day initial assignment Security status appropriate for assignment |
Staff: | Various ADC staff |
Subprograms: | ConstructionBoiler operationElectrical, plumbing, heating and airComputer operationWaste water treatmentLaundryFood servicesBuilding maintenanceClericalLandscaping and groundsk |