The bill SB495, known as the Protect Arkansas Act, proposes significant amendments to the Arkansas Code concerning sentencing, parole, and post-release supervision. It categorizes felonies into two groups: those ineligible for earned release credits, requiring individuals to serve their entire sentence, and restricted release felonies, allowing for potential release after serving at least 85% of the sentence. The Act also establishes the Legislative Recidivism Reduction Task Force to address recidivism issues and improve the parole process. Additionally, it introduces new procedures for the Post-Prison Transfer Board, which includes notifying victims and other stakeholders prior to hearings for inmate transfers, and emphasizes that post-release supervision does not equate to clemency.

Furthermore, the bill modifies various aspects of community supervision, including the introduction of earned release credits for inmates who complete educational or rehabilitative programs, and establishes guidelines for the treatment of vulnerable populations, such as pregnant inmates. It also updates terminology throughout the legislation, replacing "Parole Board" with "Post-Prison Transfer Board," and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of community supervision officers. The bill aims to enhance the management of offenders, improve public safety, and ensure that the rights of victims and vulnerable populations are respected while providing a structured approach to rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB495 V2 - 3-30-2023 02:30 PM: 5-4-101(5), 5-4-104(c), 03-30-2023, 5-4-107(a), 5-4-202, 5-4-205(f), 5-4-206(a), 5-4-301(a), 5-4-301, 5-4-312(b), 5-4-402(d), 5-4-403(a), 5-4-403, 5-4-501(c), 5-4-501(d), 5-4-702(a), 5-4-702(e), 5-4-707(f), 5-4-803(c), 5-4-803(d), 5-5-204(a), 5-10-101(a), 5-10-101(c), 5-10-102(c), 5-10-104(c), 5-10-105(b), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-112(b), 5-14-113, 5-14-124(a), 5-14-125(a), 5-14-126(a), 5-14-137(b), 5-36-103(b), 5-39-204, 5-53-101(4), 5-54-119, 5-54-129, 5-54-206(c), 5-55-107(c), 5-64-407(c), 5-64-411(c), 5-70-104(b), 5-65-115(a), 5-73-103(c), 5-73-323, 9-27-507(b), 9-27-507(e), 9-27-510(a), 9-27-510(c), 9-28-409(f), 11-10-513(a), 12-1-102, 12-12-905(a), 12-12-906(a), 12-12-909(a), 12-12-913(c), 12-12-913(j), 12-12-917(b), 12-12-917(f), 12-12-917(h), 12-12-918(d), 12-12-919(b), 12-12-1003(c), 12-12-1109(e), 12-12-1110(e), 12-12-1506(a), 12-27-103(b), 12-27-104(a), 12-27-105(b), 12-27-107(a), 12-27-107(c), 12-27-107(d), 12-27-113(b), 12-27-117, 12-27-124(a), 12-27-125(b), 12-27-126(a), 12-27-126(c), 12-27-126(d), 12-27-127, 12-27-129(b), 12-27-136, 12-27-145(a), 12-27-145(b), 12-27-147, 12-27-149, 12-27-204(a), 12-28-103, 12-28-104, 12-28-107(b), 12-28-604, 12-29-112(a), 12-29-112, 12-29-117, 25-43-403(d), 12-29-404(b), 12-29-404(c), 12-29-404(e), 14-14-115(b), 12-32-101(5), 12-32-102(d), 14-164-340(b), 16-1-101(a), 16-17-137(a), 16-21-106(c), 16-21-204(b), 16-80-104(c), 16-90-107(b), 16-90-120, 16-90-121, 16-90-402, 16-90-402(b), 16-90-802(d), 16-90-803(b), 16-90-1109(b), 16-90-1113(a), 16-90-1303(b), 16-90-1303(c), 16-90-1304(b), 16-90-1305(c), 16-90-1404(1), 16-93-101(5), 16-93-101(6), 16-93-101(11), 16-93-101(12), 16-93-101, 16-93-103, 16-93-104(a), 16-93-104(c), 16-93-106(a), 16-93-106(b), 16-93-107(b), 16-93-107(e), 16-93-111, 16-93-201(a), 16-93-202(a), 16-93-202(c), 16-93-202(e), 16-93-203(1), 16-93-204(a), 16-93-205, 16-93-206, 16-93-207(b), 16-93-207(c), 16-93-207(d), 16-93-208, 16-93-210, 16-93-211(a), 16-93-211(b), 16-93-212, 16-93-213(a), 16-93-213(b), 16-93-306(d), 16-93-310(c), 16-93-601(a), 16-93-609, 5-10-102, 5-14-103, 5-12-103, 5-73-103, 16-93-1802, 16-93-612, 16-93-601, 16-93-604, 16-93-607, 16-93-614, 5-11-102(b), 5-38-202(a), 16-93-618, 5-64-401, 5-64-403(c), 5-13-202, 5-13-204, 5-13-301, 5-26-304, 16-93-620, 16-93-621, 16-93-1901, 16-93-615, 5-4-405, 16-93-614(b), 16-93-615(a), 16-93-615(b), 16-93-615(c), 16-93-617(a), 16-93-619, 16-93-622, 16-93-701(a), 16-93-702(a), 16-93-703(a), 16-93-704(a), 16-93-705(a), 16-93-705(b), 16-93-705(d), 16-93-706(a), 16-93-708(b), 16-93-709(a), 16-93-710(a), 16-93-711(b), 16-93-712(a), 16-93-712(b), 16-93-712(d), 16-93-713, 16-93-714, 16-93-715(b), 16-93-1202(4), 16-93-1202(8), 16-93-1202(10), 16-93-1208(a), 16-93-1209, 16-93-1401(2), 16-93-1402(a), 16-93-1402(b), 16-93-1402(c), 16-93-1602(3), 16-93-1603(b), 16-97-103(1), 16-112-208(c), 17-1-103(d), 17-19-301(a), 19-5-302(12), 19-6-301(31), 19-10-204(b), 20-13-1704(b), 20-18-306, 20-7-123, 20-38-105(d), 20-76-410(a), 25-16-904(11), 25-43-402(a), 25-43-403(c)
Old version SB495 V3 - 4-5-2023 04:03 PM: 5-4-101(5), 5-4-104(c), 5-4-107(a), 5-4-202, 5-4-205(f), 5-4-206(a), 5-4-301(a), 5-4-301, 5-4-312(b), 5-4-402(d), 5-4-403(a), 5-4-403, 5-4-501(c), 5-4-501(d), 5-4-702(a), 5-4-702(e), 5-4-707(f), 5-4-803(c), 5-4-803(d), 5-5-204(a), 5-10-101(a), 5-10-101(c), 5-10-102(c), 5-10-104(c), 5-10-105(b), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-112(b), 5-14-113, 04-05-2023, 5-14-124(a), 5-14-125(a), 5-14-126(a), 5-14-137(b), 5-36-103(b), 5-39-204, 5-53-101(4), 5-54-119, 5-54-129, 5-54-206(c), 5-55-107(c), 5-64-407(c), 5-64-411(c), 5-70-104(b), 5-65-115(a), 5-73-103(c), 5-73-323, 9-27-507(b), 9-27-507(e), 9-27-510(a), 9-27-510(c), 9-28-409(f), 11-10-513(a), 12-1-102, 12-12-905(a), 12-12-906(a), 12-12-909(a), 12-12-913(c), 12-12-913(j), 12-12-917(b), 12-12-917(f), 12-12-917(h), 12-12-918(d), 12-12-919(b), 12-12-1003(c), 12-12-1109(e), 12-12-1110(e), 12-12-1506(a), 12-27-103(b), 12-27-104(a), 12-27-105(b), 12-27-107(a), 12-27-107(c), 12-27-107(d), 12-27-113(b), 12-27-117, 12-27-124(a), 12-27-125(b), 12-27-126(a), 12-27-126(c), 12-27-126(d), 12-27-127, 12-27-129(b), 12-27-136, 12-27-145(a), 12-27-145(b), 12-27-147, 12-27-149, 12-27-204(a), 12-28-103, 12-28-104, 12-28-107(b), 12-28-604, 12-29-112(a), 12-29-112, 12-29-117, 25-43-403(d), 12-29-404(b), 12-29-404(c), 12-29-404(e), 14-14-115(b), 12-32-101(5), 12-32-102(d), 14-164-340(b), 16-1-101(a), 16-17-137(a), 16-21-106(c), 16-21-204(b), 16-80-104(c), 16-90-107(b), 16-90-120, 16-90-121, 16-90-402, 16-90-402(b), 16-90-802(d), 16-90-803(b), 16-90-1109(b), 16-90-1113(a), 16-90-1303(b), 16-90-1303(c), 16-90-1304(b), 16-90-1305(c), 16-90-1404(1), 16-93-101(5), 16-93-101(6), 16-93-101(11), 16-93-101(12), 16-93-101, 16-93-103, 16-93-104(a), 16-93-104(c), 16-93-106(a), 16-93-106(b), 16-93-107(b), 16-93-107(e), 16-93-111, 16-93-201(a), 16-93-202(a), 16-93-202(c), 16-93-202(e), 16-93-203(1), 16-93-204(a), 16-93-205, 16-93-206, 16-93-207(b), 16-93-207(c), 16-93-207(d), 16-93-208, 16-93-210, 16-93-211(a), 16-93-211(b), 16-93-212, 16-93-213(a), 16-93-213(b), 16-93-306(d), 16-93-310(c), 16-93-601(a), 16-93-609, 5-10-102, 5-14-103, 5-12-103, 5-73-103, 16-93-1802, 16-93-612, 16-93-601, 16-93-604, 16-93-607, 16-93-614, 5-11-102(b), 5-38-202(a), 16-93-618, 5-64-401, 5-64-403(c), 5-13-202, 5-13-204, 5-13-301, 5-26-304, 16-93-620, 16-93-621, 16-93-1901, 16-93-615, 5-4-405, 16-93-614(b), 16-93-615(a), 16-93-615(b), 16-93-615(c), 16-93-617(a), 16-93-619, 16-93-622, 16-93-701(a), 16-93-702(a), 16-93-703(a), 16-93-704(a), 16-93-705(a), 16-93-705(b), 16-93-705(d), 16-93-706(a), 16-93-708(b), 16-93-709(a), 16-93-710(a), 16-93-711(b), 16-93-712(a), 16-93-712(b), 16-93-712(d), 16-93-713, 16-93-714, 16-93-715(b), 16-93-1202(4), 16-93-1202(8), 16-93-1202(10), 16-93-1208(a), 16-93-1209, 16-93-1401(2), 16-93-1402(a), 16-93-1402(b), 16-93-1402(c), 16-93-1602(3), 16-93-1603(b), 16-97-103(1), 16-112-208(c), 17-1-103(d), 17-19-301(a), 19-5-302(12), 19-6-301(31), 19-10-204(b), 20-13-1704(b), 20-18-306, 20-7-123, 20-38-105(d), 20-76-410(a), 25-16-904(11), 25-43-402(a), 25-43-403(c)
SB 495: 5-4-101(5), 5-4-104(c), 5-4-107(a), 5-4-202, 5-4-205(f), 5-4-206(a), 5-4-301(a), 5-4-301, 5-4-312(b), 5-4-402(d), 5-4-403(a), 5-4-403, 5-4-501(c), 5-4-501(d), 5-4-702(a), 5-4-702(e), 5-4-707(f), 5-4-803(c), 5-4-803(d), 5-5-204(a), 5-10-101(a), 5-10-101(c), 5-10-102(c), 5-10-104(c), 5-10-105(b), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-112(b), 5-14-113, 04-05-2023, 5-14-124(a), 5-14-125(a), 5-14-126(a), 5-14-137(b), 5-36-103(b), 5-39-204, 5-53-101(4), 5-54-119, 5-54-129, 5-54-206(c), 5-55-107(c), 5-64-407(c), 5-64-411(c), 5-70-104(b), 5-65-115(a), 5-73-103(c), 5-73-323, 9-27-507(b), 9-27-507(e), 9-27-510(a), 9-27-510(c), 9-28-409(f), 11-10-513(a), 12-1-102, 12-12-905(a), 12-12-906(a), 12-12-909(a), 12-12-913(c), 12-12-913(j), 12-12-917(b), 12-12-917(f), 12-12-917(h), 12-12-918(d), 12-12-919(b), 12-12-1003(c), 12-12-1109(e), 12-12-1110(e), 12-12-1506(a), 12-27-103(b), 12-27-104(a), 12-27-105(b), 12-27-107(a), 12-27-107(c), 12-27-107(d), 12-27-113(b), 12-27-117, 12-27-124(a), 12-27-125(b), 12-27-126(a), 12-27-126(c), 12-27-126(d), 12-27-127, 12-27-129(b), 12-27-136, 12-27-145(a), 12-27-145(b), 12-27-147, 12-27-149, 12-27-204(a), 12-28-103, 12-28-104, 12-28-107(b), 12-28-604, 12-29-112(a), 12-29-112, 12-29-117, 25-43-403(d), 12-29-404(b), 12-29-404(c), 12-29-404(e), 14-14-115(b), 12-32-101(5), 12-32-102(d), 14-164-340(b), 16-1-101(a), 16-17-137(a), 16-21-106(c), 16-21-204(b), 16-80-104(c), 16-90-107(b), 16-90-120, 16-90-121, 16-90-402, 16-90-402(b), 16-90-802(d), 16-90-803(b), 16-90-1109(b), 16-90-1113(a), 16-90-1303(b), 16-90-1303(c), 16-90-1304(b), 16-90-1305(c), 16-90-1404(1), 16-93-101(5), 16-93-101(6), 16-93-101(11), 16-93-101(12), 16-93-101, 16-93-103, 16-93-104(a), 16-93-104(c), 16-93-106(a), 16-93-106(b), 16-93-107(b), 16-93-107(e), 16-93-111, 16-93-201(a), 16-93-202(a), 16-93-202(c), 16-93-202(e), 16-93-203(1), 16-93-204(a), 16-93-205, 16-93-206, 16-93-207(b), 16-93-207(c), 16-93-207(d), 16-93-208, 16-93-210, 16-93-211(a), 16-93-211(b), 16-93-212, 16-93-213(a), 16-93-213(b), 16-93-306(d), 16-93-310(c), 16-93-601(a), 16-93-609, 5-10-102, 5-14-103, 5-12-103, 5-73-103, 16-93-1802, 16-93-612, 16-93-601, 16-93-604, 16-93-607, 16-93-614, 5-11-102(b), 5-38-202(a), 16-93-618, 5-64-401, 5-64-403(c), 5-13-202, 5-13-204, 5-13-301, 5-26-304, 16-93-620, 16-93-621, 16-93-1901, 16-93-615, 5-4-405, 16-93-614(b), 16-93-615(a), 16-93-615(b), 16-93-615(c), 16-93-617(a), 16-93-619, 16-93-622, 16-93-701(a), 16-93-702(a), 16-93-703(a), 16-93-704(a), 16-93-705(a), 16-93-705(b), 16-93-705(d), 16-93-706(a), 16-93-708(b), 16-93-709(a), 16-93-710(a), 16-93-711(b), 16-93-712(a), 16-93-712(b), 16-93-712(d), 16-93-713, 16-93-714, 16-93-715(b), 16-93-1202(4), 16-93-1202(8), 16-93-1202(10), 16-93-1208(a), 16-93-1209, 16-93-1401(2), 16-93-1402(a), 16-93-1402(b), 16-93-1402(c), 16-93-1602(3), 16-93-1603(b), 16-97-103(1), 16-112-208(c), 17-1-103(d), 17-19-301(a), 19-5-302(12), 19-6-301(31), 19-10-204(b), 20-13-1704(b), 20-18-306, 20-7-123, 20-38-105(d), 20-76-410(a), 25-16-904(11), 25-43-402(a), 25-43-403(c)
Act 659: 5-4-101(5), 5-4-104(c), 5-4-107(a), 5-4-202, 5-4-205(f), 5-4-206(a), 5-4-301(a), 5-4-301, 5-4-312(b), 5-4-402(d), 5-4-403(a), 5-4-403, 5-4-501(c), 5-4-501(d), 5-4-702(a), 5-4-702(e), 5-4-707(f), 5-4-803(c), 5-4-803(d), 5-5-204(a), 5-10-101(a), 5-10-101(c), 5-10-102(c), 5-10-104(c), 5-10-105(b), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-112(b), 5-14-113, 04-05-2023, 5-14-124(a), 5-14-125(a), 5-14-126(a), 5-14-137(b), 5-36-103(b), 5-39-204, 5-53-101(4), 5-54-119, 5-54-129, 5-54-206(c), 5-55-107(c), 5-64-407(c), 5-64-411(c), 5-70-104(b), 5-65-115(a), 5-73-103(c), 5-73-323, 9-27-507(b), 9-27-507(e), 9-27-510(a), 9-27-510(c), 9-28-409(f), 11-10-513(a), 12-1-102, 12-12-905(a), 12-12-906(a), 12-12-909(a), 12-12-913(c), 12-12-913(j), 12-12-917(b), 12-12-917(f), 12-12-917(h), 12-12-918(d), 12-12-919(b), 12-12-1003(c), 12-12-1109(e), 12-12-1110(e), 12-12-1506(a), 12-27-103(b), 12-27-104(a), 12-27-105(b), 12-27-107(a), 12-27-107(c), 12-27-107(d), 12-27-113(b), 12-27-117, 12-27-124(a), 12-27-125(b), 12-27-126(a), 12-27-126(c), 12-27-126(d), 12-27-127, 12-27-129(b), 12-27-136, 12-27-145(a), 12-27-145(b), 12-27-147, 12-27-149, 12-27-204(a), 12-28-103, 12-28-104, 12-28-107(b), 12-28-604, 12-29-112(a), 12-29-112, 12-29-117, 25-43-403(d), 12-29-404(b), 12-29-404(c), 12-29-404(e), 14-14-115(b), 12-32-101(5), 12-32-102(d), 14-164-340(b), 16-1-101(a), 16-17-137(a), 16-21-106(c), 16-21-204(b), 16-80-104(c), 16-90-107(b), 16-90-120, 16-90-121, 16-90-402, 16-90-402(b), 16-90-802(d), 16-90-803(b), 16-90-1109(b), 16-90-1113(a), 16-90-1303(b), 16-90-1303(c), 16-90-1304(b), 16-90-1305(c), 16-90-1404(1), 16-93-101(5), 16-93-101(6), 16-93-101(11), 16-93-101(12), 16-93-101, 16-93-103, 16-93-104(a), 16-93-104(c), 16-93-106(a), 16-93-106(b), 16-93-107(b), 16-93-107(e), 16-93-111, 16-93-201(a), 16-93-202(a), 16-93-202(c), 16-93-202(e), 16-93-203(1), 16-93-204(a), 16-93-205, 16-93-206, 16-93-207(b), 16-93-207(c), 16-93-207(d), 16-93-208, 16-93-210, 16-93-211(a), 16-93-211(b), 16-93-212, 16-93-213(a), 16-93-213(b), 16-93-306(d), 16-93-310(c), 16-93-601(a), 16-93-609, 5-10-102, 5-14-103, 5-12-103, 5-73-103, 16-93-1802, 16-93-612, 16-93-601, 16-93-604, 16-93-607, 16-93-614, 5-11-102(b), 5-38-202(a), 16-93-618, 5-64-401, 5-64-403(c), 5-13-202, 5-13-204, 5-13-301, 5-26-304, 16-93-620, 16-93-621, 16-93-1901, 16-93-615, 5-4-405, 16-93-614(b), 16-93-615(a), 16-93-615(b), 16-93-615(c), 16-93-617(a), 16-93-619, 16-93-622, 16-93-701(a), 16-93-702(a), 16-93-703(a), 16-93-704(a), 16-93-705(a), 16-93-705(b), 16-93-705(d), 16-93-706(a), 16-93-708(b), 16-93-709(a), 16-93-710(a), 16-93-711(b), 16-93-712(a), 16-93-712(b), 16-93-712(d), 16-93-713, 16-93-714, 16-93-715(b), 16-93-1202(4), 16-93-1202(8), 16-93-1202(10), 16-93-1208(a), 16-93-1209, 16-93-1401(2), 16-93-1402(a), 16-93-1402(b), 16-93-1402(c), 16-93-1602(3), 16-93-1603(b), 16-97-103(1), 16-112-208(c), 17-1-103(d), 17-19-301(a), 19-5-302(12), 19-6-301(31), 19-10-204(b), 20-13-1704(b), 20-18-306, 20-7-123, 20-38-105(d), 20-76-410(a), 25-16-904(11), 25-43-402(a), 25-43-403(c)