An inmate’s eligibility for parole/post-release supervision is determined by their sentence to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. The Post-Prison Transfer Board is the releasing authority. The Post-Prison Transfer Board may require special conditions be placed on inmates being considered for release to parole/post-release supervision.

Upon notice from the Division of Correction Records Department that an inmate is close to being eligible for parole/post-release supervision:

• Community Supervision staff may be required to complete a synopsis of the inmate’s current offenses and prior offenses for the review by Post-Prison Transfer Board Commissioners. This synopsis is called a field report and is used by the Post-Prison Transfer Board in decisions regarding release to parole/post-release supervision.

• Institutional Release Services (IRS) will schedule inmates for release.
  • Institutional Release Officers (IROs) will complete the ARORA Pre-Release Assessment on the inmate, and work with inmates to establish a suitable community supervision plan which identifies their residence and employment offers (if applicable) upon release. Inmates cannot be released to community supervision from prison without an approved community supervision plan.

• Community Supervision Officers will conduct home visits and meet with the individual the offender is requesting to live with upon release from prison. A suitable parole/post-release supervision plan includes:
  • The owner of the residence allows the offender to live there.
  • The owner allows officers access to the inside of the residence and approves the warrantless search waiver required of all offenders released on parole/post-release supervision.
  • Officers can physically access the property (no locked enclosures/fences surrounding the residence).
  • There are no unsecured firearms at the residence.
  • Special conditions for sex offenders must be established by officers investigating the parole/post-release supervision plan.

• Potentially while the parole/post-release supervision plan is pending approval, IROs will serve inmates a letter titled, “Notice of Screening.” This letter lets the inmate know that the Post-Prison Transfer Board will be interviewing them or screening their files to determine if they will be granted parole/post-release supervision.

• Upon notice of an approved Residence Plan, IROs will enter the approved Residence Plan, ARORA Pre-Release and Notice of Screening into our electronic offender management system eOMIS.

• The Post-Prison Transfer Board votes, and the results are indicated on the Record of Release Consideration.

• The IRO gives the inmate a copy of the Record of Release Consideration on the day that the Post-Prison Transfer Board votes. The Record of Release Consideration will indicate if the inmate is approved or denied for parole/post-release supervision.

• Once an offender is approved by the Post-Prison Transfer Board, Division of Correction Records Department will do a release check to make sure the inmate does not have any pending detainers or open charges that have not been satisfied.

• Warden/Deputy Warden will do a final check to make sure the correct inmate is released and transportation secured for his or her transition into the community.

• Once the release check is cleared, the inmate will be allowed to make a phone call to have a family member/friend to pick him or her up, or the Business Office will purchase a bus ticket to the nearest location of his or her parole/post-release supervision plan.

• If the inmate has a ride from a family member/friend, he or she will be escorted to the entrance building and released to his or her family.

• If the inmate is riding the bus, a Correctional Officer will drive him or her to the nearest bus station and stay there until the inmate gets on the bus.

• Community Supervision Officers meet with offenders upon release from prison. Conditions of Release and special conditions are reviewed. Risk and Need assessments are completed to determine placement in treatment and education programs. A supervision plan is developed which establishes a list of goals and objectives for the offender to achieve to successfully navigate supervision.