Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 004 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS › Rule 004.00.95-003 - Reg. 812 - Temporary Release/Meritorious Furloughs

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
812 Temporary Release/Meritorious Furloughs
I.
AUTHORITY
:
The authority of the Board of Correction and Community Punishment
			 to promulgate this Administrative Regulation is vested in Act 549 of
			 1993.
II.
PURPOSE
:
To provide a mechanism for the temporary release of inmates which
			 serves as an incentive program and assists in attaining a more normal and
			 orderly transition from the Department of Correction into the community.
III.
APPLICABILITY
:
Board of Correction and Community Punishment, Deputy/ Assistant
			 Directors, Wardens/Center Supervisors, all employees involved in the
			 approval/processing of furloughs; and inmates.
IV.
DEFINITIONS:
A.
Meritorious
		  Furlough:
The approved, temporary release of an inmate for a
		  period not to exceed five calendar days.
B.
Sponsor:
Approved
		  persons with whom the inmate resides while on meritorious furlough.
A sponsor shall be required to be already approved and listed on
			 the inmate's visitation list at the time of furlough application.
V.
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the Department of Correction to grant
			 meritorious furloughs pursuant to established requirements and conditions for
			 approved inmates.
VI.
PROCEDURES:
A.
		  Requirements
A meritorious furlough may be granted for exemplary conduct on
			 the part of an inmate.
1. All inmates
		  who are serving a life sentence or a sentence of a term of years and who have
		  achieved Class I-A or I-B, and who have continuously maintained that status for
		  not less than one year may be eligible for meritorious furloughs if they meet
		  all of the following requirements:
a. Have
		  been an inmate in an institution of the Arkansas Department of Correction
		  continuously for one year;
b. Have
		  not been convicted of a major disciplinary violation for a period of not less
		  than six months immediately prior to applying for such meritorious
		  furlough;
c. Does not have any
		  pending felony detainers;
d. The
		  Sheriff and other appropriate law enforcement personnel of the county to which
		  the inmate is furloughing approves;
e. An inmate serving a "life" sentence must
		  have his or her application approved by the appropriate assistant director,
		  submitted through the Director prior to approval by the Board of
		  Correction.
2. An inmate
		  who has been sentenced to Death, or serving a sentence of Life Without Parole
		  will not be eligible for meritorious furloughs under any conditions.
3. All inmates must be approved by the Unit
		  Classification Committee consisting of an assistant warden, classification
		  officer, a chief security officer and a member of the treatment staff. Approval
		  must be unanimous. The Unit Classification Committee will base their decision
		  on:
a. The inmate does not have, presently, an
		  abnormal propensity for violence.
b. The inmate does not constitute a security
		  risk. (This criteria is made by the Classification Committee at the time the
		  inmate is approved for Class I-B and again when reviewed for a
		  furlough.)
c. The inmate is capable
		  of abiding by the terms and conditions of such a furlough.
d. The inmate will not be endangered by such
		  a temporary release.
e. The inmate
		  has not received a meritorious furlough during the preceding six
		  months.
f. The inmate must be
		  favorably recommended by his or her immediate work supervisor.
g. The inmate must have a sponsor willing to
		  accept and transport the inmate.
h.
		  Once the inmate initially becomes eligible for a meritorious furlough, the
		  sheriff-and prosecuting attorney from the sentencing county shall be notified
		  and their comments solicited.
i.
		  The sheriff and chief of police in the county and city where the inmate wishes
		  to furlough must approve prior to the inmate's release on furlough.
j. In the case of an inmate serving a life
		  sentence, the victim or victim's family shall be notified of the impending
		  meritorious furlough and the response will be available to the furlough
		  committee as criteria on their making a final decision. This notification will
		  allow the victim or the family the opportunity to comment.
k. A certificate of furlough must be signed
		  by the warden/center supervisor, inmate and sponsor. The inmate and
		  warden/center supervisor shall also sign an agreement to return.
l. Inmates serving a life sentence who are
		  approved for a meritorious furlough shall be required to wear an electronic
		  monitoring device.
B. Rules of Meritorious Furlough
Meritorious furloughs shall not begin nor end on a weekend or
			 holiday.
Inmates released on a meritorious furlough shall adhere to a
			 daily reporting schedule while on furlough.
Inmates released on a meritorious furlough must abide by the
			 following rules.
1. Not leave the
		  state of Arkansas for any purpose or under any circumstances;
2. Not leave the county to which he or she
		  was furloughed except for travel to the county and return travel to the
		  institution, without the written consent and approval of the warden/center
		  supervisor or appropriate assistant director;
3. Not possess or consume alcoholic beverages
		  of any kind or drugs not specifically prescribed for him or her;
4. Not visit any place of business where
		  alcoholic beverages are the major items offered for sale;
5. Not violate any laws of this state, the
		  county or municipality, or the United States;
6. Not operate a motor vehicle of any kind.
Specific conditions for the inmate to abide by shall be listed in
			 the appropriate Administrative Directive.
C. General
Specific guidelines to include but not be limited to sponsorship,
			 departure and arrival times, medical screening, and contacts shall be included
			 in the appropriate Administrative Directive.
VII.
A.C.A.
		  REFERENCES
:
Supersedes: 812
Dated: 4/23/81