About Us

APB HISTORY

Parole has been a component of corrections in Arkansas for over 60 years. The State Penitentiary Board was originally established through Act 1, 1943. Act 50 of 1968 reorganized the State Penitentiary as the Arkansas Department of Correction and created two major boards. The Board of Correction and the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Act 937 of 1989 abolished the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Board of Community Rehabilitation to create a Board of Parole and Community Rehabilitation.

Prior to reorganization the Board of Pardons and Paroles consisted of five members who were citizens of the State, appointed by the governor to staggered five year terms. The Board initially met three days each month at various units within the Department of Correction. The Board interviewed inmates to determine who should be placed on parole and the prescribed conditions of parole. Additionally they made recommendations to the Governor on applications for pardons and executive clemencies.

The Commission on Community Rehabilitation consisted of six members who were also required to be citizens of the State. This body was appointed by the governor to staggered four year terms. The Commission met at least once a month and was primarily responsible for reviewing and certifying alternative service programs, screening files of qualified offenders’ and recommending expungement of records for eligible offenders who successfully completed a prescribed program.

In 1993, legislation revamped the Board of Parole and Community Rehabilitation. The Board was renamed The Arkansas Post Prison Transfer Board. Subsequent legislation in 1993 and 1997 expanded the Board to full time positions.

In 2005, SB 383, renamed the Post-Prison Transfer Board to the Parole Board. The move was designed to alleviate confusion on the part of the public about what the board does.

In 2007, legislation made all 7 board positions full-time and expanded the support staff to include an Investigator and an Information Technology position.

AGENCY GOAL

The goal of the Parole Board is to guide and monitor the offender through the transition from confinement to the completion of supervision within the community.

AGENCY MISSION STATEMENT

The Arkansas Parole Board is an important part of the criminal justice system. The Board is dedicated to the process of promoting public safety by the return of offenders into the community through supervised conditional release. It is our desire that there will be a successful transition from confinement to responsible conduct within the community.

THE MISSION OF THE PAROLE BOARD IS ACCOMPLISHED BY:

Informing the offender that the Parole Board considers that parole is a privilege, which may be granted to serve as a portion of the court-imposed sentence under supervision in the community. All cases will be considered on an individual basis, and the Board will treat all offenders in a fair and honest manner.

Communicating to the offender that parole may be granted when all statutory requirements have been met, and there is reasonable probability that if the offender is released, all the conditions of parole, all laws, ordinances, orders of the city, county, state and federal government must be abided by.

Identifying eligible offenders for whom there is sufficient indication that they are ready to re-enter into the mainstream of society as a productive law-abiding citizen.

Encouraging offenders to exhibit positive growth and development by addressing the nature of their crime and participating in recommended self-help programs or in vocational or educational programs which will assist them in their adjustment/acceptance back into society. The Parole Board will encourage the Department of Correction to provide appropriate programming in all the correctional institutions.

Considering the statements of victims. Victim input is a key part of the parole process because it will provide some important information about the crime and conviction that might not be available to the Board. While providing input, the victim will gain some insight into how the offender has come to the point of eligibility and what criteria has been satisfied before parole is considered and granted. This will further ensure that the citizens will obtain peace of mind in knowing that their input has been important in the total decision-making process.

Enforcing compliance with all parole conditions through the timely application of appropriate sanctions, which may include returning to confinement.

FUNCTION

The current Parole Board is an independent quasi-judicial body, whose members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Chairman of the Board reports directly to the Governor, and serves (by nature of the position) as a voting member of the Board of Corrections. The Parole Board’s mandate is to conduct parole hearings throughout the state of Arkansas and make decisions on conditional release of inmates in correctional facilities. The Board is also responsible for reviewing all pardon and executive clemency applications and making non-binding recommendations to the Governor.

Board members come from all lifestyles and a variety of cultural backgrounds. They receive training prior to assuming the responsibility of conducting parole hearings. Members provide strong links between communities and the Board through outreach with concerned community groups, speaking engagements at community functions and communications initiatives.

Members of the Parole Board report to the Chairman and are responsible for the conduct of release hearings. Board decisions are subject to considerable public interest and occasionally come under critical public and media scrutiny. Board members must also maintain strong working relationships with corrections staff, court services, boards across the United States, and law enforcement agencies.

Each member of the Board holds office for a term of seven years. Board members are appointed on their merits and must have demonstrated:

(1) A true sense of responsibility and interest in community affairs, which they have proven through community activities and participation.

(2) A level of ability, experience and objectivity that is consistent with the task of independent decision making.

(3) An appreciation of the serious impact that their decisions may have on the parole applicant, the victim and the community.

(4) The ability to acquire the general knowledge of the justice system and parole processes that is required in the performance of their duties.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

The major responsibility of the Parole Board is to grant, deny, suspend and revoke parole in accordance with legislated criteria. A major challenge in the risk assessment process is to balance two primary competing interests; the gravity and impact of offenses on society versus the timely and safe reintegration of the offender to the community. Board members must remain constantly aware of legislative changes, policies, and procedures, while dealing with a volatile environment created by changing social and community values.

Board members assess the reliability, credibility and persuasiveness of relevant information from various sources and often conflicting in opinion.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Arkansas Parole Board members have the authority to make decisions on the conditional release of offenders from custody. The Board's public accountability requires that the risk of public harm to be constantly evaluated when considering the potential freedom and reintegration of offenders into the community. Members exercise discretion in making their own assessment of risk and the consequences of release to public safety. In making a decision, Board members are guided by two criteria set out in legislation: the risk posed to the community by the potential to re-offend and secondly, the rehabilitation and reintegration of the offender back into the community. If a decision is made to grant parole, a conditional release of parole is authorized and signed by the offender, and explained to the applicant prior to release. In general, each hearing requires a quorum of four members. Board members exercise independent judgment in cases of parole violations and have authority to temporarily suspend parole and authorize a warrant for the arrest of the parolee.

The Board is also responsible for reviewing all pardon and executive clemency applications and making non-binding recommendations to the Governor.

DISCRETIONARY PAROLE RELEASE

For offenders sentenced under current law, mandatory release eligibility is determined by statue. The Board reviews the release of offenders convicted of specific violent or drug related offenses and can delay release until a course of action has been completed. Inmates who are sentenced to death or life without parole are not eligible for parole release consideration. Those sentenced to life are not eligible unless their sentenced is commuted to a term of years.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO PAROLE RELEASE HEARINGS

Notification to the public of scheduled parole release hearings is required by Board policy. Such hearings are open to the public with some restrictions.

VICTIM INVOLVEMENT

Crime victims can provide information to the Board via written statements, oral statements, and/or various electronic media. The agency notifies crime victims of scheduled parole hearings, and the results of such hearings, when victims have requested to be notified. Victim input to the parole hearing is confidential and cannot be obtained by the inmate.