The bill amends existing Arkansas law regarding the reporting requirements of the Board of Corrections, the Division of Correction, and the Division of Community Correction. It replaces the previous requirement for a biennial report with a new mandate for an annual report that must be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly after each fiscal year. This report will encompass the activities of both the Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction, detailing statistics, income from various activities, expenditures, and progress on internal issues such as inmate discipline and facility utilization. Additionally, the report from the Division of Community Correction will include data on the number of individuals sentenced or transferred to the division, categorized by criminal offense and including demographic statistics.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the duties of the Director of the Division of Correction, eliminating the requirement for an annual report to the Board of Corrections and instead streamlining the reporting process. It also emphasizes the need for cooperation between the Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction, as well as other entities, to ensure comprehensive correctional services. The Division of Community Correction is tasked with providing quarterly updates on position vacancies and average case loads for parole and probation officers, ensuring transparency and accountability in staffing and resource allocation.

Statutes affected:
HB 1593: 12-27-104(h), 12-27-107(d)