Division of Correction

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Inmate Programs Page 4

View the Listing of All Inmate Programs and Services

Reduction of Sexual Victimization Program (RSVP)

Description:The focus of RSVP is the 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
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 prevention, cognitive/behavioral treatment, interpersonal communication and relationship 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 Services, religious revivals, pastoral counseling, religious education, family programs and other faith/spiritual 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.)

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
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 treatment
•Program is composed of 3 areas: Social skills training, anger control training and moral 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
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 prevention, cognitive/behavioral treatment, interpersonal communication and relationship 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
Requirements:Assignments are made by medical staff and must abide by unit rules
Staff:Medical, Mental health, Security personnel
Subprograms:Medical/medication management, individual counseling, placement 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.
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

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 classes, encounter group therapy, relapse intervention, addiction/criminal thinking reduction, reality therapy, focus groups, issue groups, pro-social development, rational emotive behavior therapy groups, journaling
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 classes, encounter group therapy, relapse intervention, addiction/criminal thinking reduction, reality therapy, focus groups, issue groups, pro-social development, rational emotive behavior therapy groups, journaling
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/appraisal, referrals by DOC staff, routine contact by mental health staff
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 Regional Unit, Cummins Unit, Wrightsville Unit, Hawkins Unit, Tucker Unit, Ouachita River Correctional Unit, McPherson Unit, Grimes Unit, North Central Unit, East Arkansas Regional Unit, Randall L. Williams Unit, Pine Bluff 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 Post-Prison Transfer 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 aNI 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 Unit, Approximately 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

Vocational Education Program

Description:Job skills training programs developed and managed the Arkansas Correctional School District and funded through the Department of Workforce Education.
Capacity:Approximately 690 males.
Approximately 150 females.
Impact:Cummins Unit, Grimes Unit, Varner Unit, East Arkansas Regional Unit, Ouachita River Correctional Unit, McPherson Unit, Pine Bluff Unit, North Central Unit, Randall L. Williams Unit, Wrightsville Complex (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
•Class II
Staff:ADC Staff
Subprograms:Automotive body repair, automotive mechanics, building/grounds maintenance, cabinet making, welding, accounting, computer repair, cosmetology, drafting technology, farm/diesel mechanics, food service technology, HVAC, horticulture, office technology, plumbing, residential carpentry, residential electricity, small engine repair, digital imaging, furniture repair, graphic arts, upholstery, pet care and management, landscape construction and design, barbering

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.
Impact:Delta Regional Unit, Northwest Arkansas Work Release Center, Ouachita River Correctional Unit, Randall L. Williams Unit, Tucker Unit, Wrightsville Unit, Hawkins Unit

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:Construction, boiler operation, electrical, plumbing, heating and air, computer operation, waste water treatment, laundry, food services, building maintenance, clerical, landscaping and grounds keeping

View the Listing of All Inmate Programs and Services

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