The bill seeks to update and clarify the legal framework governing the Division of Community Correction and the Department of Corrections in Arkansas. Key amendments include the transfer of responsibilities for sex offender community notification assessments to the Department of Corrections and the specification that confinement in community correction centers can last up to 365 days. The bill also redefines terms, replacing "Division of Correction" with "Department of Corrections," and emphasizes the confidentiality of inmate records, prohibiting their use for political purposes. Additionally, it outlines the reimbursement process for counties housing inmates when the Department cannot accommodate them due to insufficient bed space.

Further changes involve the management and transfer of inmates between correctional facilities, with the Post-Prison Transfer Board granted authority to remove inmates from community correction centers for non-compliance. The bill introduces "post-release supervision" as a condition for eligible offenders and shifts the responsibility for determining eligibility for community correction programs from the Division of Community Correction to the Department of Corrections. Temporary provisions are included to transfer certain powers from the Division to the Department, with an emergency clause indicating the urgency of these changes to address recidivism effectively. The bill will take effect immediately upon approval by the Governor or after the veto period.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB539 Original - 3-20-2025 01:39 PM: 5-4-304(c), 5-4-312(b), 5-4-312(d), 12-12-911(b), 12-12-913(c), 12-12-917(g), 12-12-918(b), 12-27-113, 12-27-145, 12-27-114, 12-27-115, 12-27-125, 12-27-127, 12-29-205(a), 16-93-306(d), 16-93-306(g), 16-93-308(i), 16-93-309(a), 16-93-309(b), 16-93-310, 16-93-614(c), 16-93-617, 16-93-616, 16-93-618, 16-93-614, 16-93-1202(2), 16-93-1202(4), 16-93-1202(8), 16-93-1202(10), 16-93-1205, 16-93-1207(a), 16-93-1804(1)
Old version SB539 V2 - 4-1-2025 11:37 AM: 5-4-304(c), 5-4-312(b), 5-4-312(d), 12-12-911(b), 12-12-913(c), 12-12-917(g), 12-12-918(b), 12-27-113, 04-01-2025, 12-27-145, 12-27-114, 12-27-115, 12-27-125, 12-27-127, 12-29-205(a), 16-93-306(d), 16-93-306(g), 16-93-308(i), 16-93-309(a), 16-93-309(b), 16-93-310, 16-93-614(c), 16-93-617, 16-93-616, 16-93-618, 16-93-614, 16-93-712(d), 16-93-1202(2), 16-93-1202(4), 16-93-1202(8), 16-93-1202(10), 16-93-1205, 16-93-1207(a), 16-93-1804(1), 16-93-1907(a)
SB 539: 5-4-304(c), 5-4-312(b), 5-4-312(d), 12-12-911(b), 12-12-913(c), 12-12-917(g), 12-12-918(b), 12-27-113, 12-27-145, 12-27-114, 12-27-115, 12-27-125, 12-27-127, 12-29-205(a), 16-93-306(d), 16-93-306(g), 16-93-308(i), 16-93-309(a), 16-93-309(b), 16-93-310, 16-93-614(c), 16-93-617, 16-93-616, 16-93-618, 16-93-614, 16-93-1202(2), 16-93-1202(4), 16-93-1202(8), 16-93-1202(10), 16-93-1205, 16-93-1207(a), 16-93-1804(1)