Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 004 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Rule 004.00.10-001 - AR 860 Inmate Correspondence; and AR 1200 Work/Study Release Program

1. Privileged Correspondence

Incoming and outgoing correspondence with the persons or organizations specified below shall be considered privileged correspondence as long as the designated individuals are acting in their official capacities.

2. General Correspondence

Correspondence, other than privileged or Interstate/inter-unit correspondence, shall be considered general correspondence. Inmates do not need to submit a list of the people with whom they wish to correspond, nor will any approval be needed from the administration prior to corresponding. There will be no limitation placed on the number of letters mailed or received. All general correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, may be opened, inspected, read and records may be kept of all incoming and outgoing general correspondence to see that the family contact is maintained. Such contact is essential for rehabilitation and arrangements may be made, in the absence of family contact, for correspondence with a volunteer.

The full name under which the inmate was committed and the ADC number of the inmate shall be shown in the upper left-hand corner of the envelope on the outgoing mail. Any violation of the rules and regulations which also constitutes a violation of Federal Postal Laws shall be reported to the Federal Postal authorities or appropriate personnel responsible for the processing and inspection of such mail. Inmates in punitive segregation will be allowed to send and receive letters on the same basis as inmates in the general population. This will include both general and privileged correspondence.

3. Interstate/Inter-Unit Correspondence between Incarcerated Individuals

Interstate and Inter-unit correspondence is that mail between all individuals who are incarcerated either within the Arkansas Department of Correction or another facility. Interstate, and Inter-Unit correspondence of two (2) incarcerated individuals will be restricted to members of the immediate family. It will be subjected to the usual rules under general correspondence. Inter-unit correspondence must have the approval of both the sending and receiving unit/center Warden/Center Supervisor. In the case of Interstate correspondence where the out of state facility does not take a position, only the Arkansas Warden/Center Supervisor must approve. For the purposes of this provision "immediate family" is defined as the inmate's father, mother, sister, brother, spouse, children, grandparents, grandchildren, stepfamily members, half-siblings, verified foster child, son-in law, daughter-in-law, niece or nephew.

1. Inspections: Mail or hobby craft packages can be opened in order to determine if any contraband items are contained therein and to remove any such contraband items.

2. Contraband: Any item that is not permitted under the usual rules of the unit/center.

3. Rejection: Subject to review and rejection of such material which the officials sincerely believe presents a clear and present danger to institutional security.

1. Persons convicted of a capital offense, first degree murder, rape, kidnapping, or who have been convicted for a second or subsequent offense of aggravated robbery, or who are serving a life sentence, or who are under sentence to be executed, are not eligible to participate in this program. (Act 399 of 1979).

2. Inmates having an undisposed felony detainer filed against him/her will be ineligible to participate in a Work/Study Release Program.

3. Inmates convicted of any sex offense will not be eligible for Work/ Study Release.

4. Inmates convicted of a felony escape are not eligible for Work/ Study Release.

1. The inmate must be eligible for minimum security status.

2. An inmate must have a parole eligibility release date within forty two months or shorter as determined by the Director.

3. An inmate should have had no major disciplinary infractions for a period of not less than three months immediately prior to application. The Warden/Center Supervisor, however, may approve an inmate for selection and possible transfer to the Work/Study Release Program where he/she deems it particularly appropriate. In such a case, the ninety days minimum requirement may be waived, and written approval of the appropriate Assistant /Deputy Director must be obtained before an inmate may be transferred to a Work/Study Release Program.

4. An eligible inmate must exhibit a current medical classification commensurate with expected work assignment. This classification will be reviewed by the transferring unit/center medical authority prior to final approval for Work/Study Release eligibility. The Warden/Center Supervisor shall ensure that the medical authority is made knowledgeable of the type of work program the inmate is to participate in for any applicable medical related considerations. No inmate will be allowed to participate in a Work/Study Release Program if such participation requires physical capabilities beyond that which could have been routinely assigned at a unit/center.

5. Inmates engaged in the Study Release Program must have sufficient time remaining on his/her sentence to complete one semester of study or satisfactory proof be furnished to the Department that he/she will complete the semester work.

6. Priority will be given to inmates returning to the geographical region served by a Work/Study Release Unit/Center.

1. Eligible inmates are to submit a "Work/Study Release Application" form to the Classification Officer and/or Work Release Warden/ Center Supervisor (see Attachment I). If the applicant meets the criteria for eligibility, the Classification Officer will consider the application and forward its recommendation to the Warden/Center Supervisor. The decision of the Classification Committee must be unanimous before a favorable recommendation is forwarded to the Warden/Center Supervisor.

2. Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will be informed in writing by the Classification Officer and/or Work Release Warden/Center Supervisor, and a copy will be placed in the inmate's institutional file.

3. No application for a Work/Study Program will be favorably recommended by the Classification Committee unless the Committee is satisfied that the inmate meets all requirements of eligibility and that the inmate:

4. Each inmate favorably recommended for transfer to a Work/Study Release Program will receive a medical, mental health, and work supervisor's evaluation that will be forwarded to the Unit Classification Committee for consideration prior to final approval.

5. Work/Release Wardens/Supervisors will have final approval of all Work/Study Release Program applicants.

1. Inmates participating in the Work/Study Release Program shall not:

2. Transportation to and from work will be provided by the Department of Correction or by the employer upon written approval of the Work Release/Center Supervisor.

3. Inmates selected to participate in Work/Study Release will agree to participate in self-improvement programs at the Work Release Center, Basic Education, GED, etc.

4. The inmates shall obey all Department of Correction rules and regulations.

5. Inmates participating in the Work/Study Release Program will be required to sign an Agreement to Return Form.

1. If a Work/Study Release inmate is terminated from his employment through no fault of his/her own, officials of the Work/Study Release Program will immediately assign the inmate to an institutional job. During this period of reassignment, which shall be no longer than fifteen consecutive days (excluding holidays), every effort will be made by the Department of Correction and the inmate to regain employment. If, at the end of this fifteen days reassignment period, employment has not been found, the supervisor of the Work/Study Release Program may administratively transfer this individual to an existing job assignment at the unit/center or transfer him/her back to the parent unit/center.

2. If an inmate is terminated for just cause, he/she will be dropped from the program and transferred back to his/her parent unit/center.

3. If an inmate wishes to terminate his/her employment, he/she may do so after obtaining approval of the Work/Study Release Warden/Center Supervisor who ensures the employer is notified.

4. The inmate may be awarded a program change when the supervisor feels it is in the best interest of the inmate, the Department of Correction, or his/her employer.

5. Earnings by the inmate shall be paid by check directly to the Department and to the inmate.

6. The Department shall retain an amount to be established by the Director which will be used to compensate the Department for the cost of maintaining Work/Study Release inmates.

7. If the inmate has persons dependent upon him/her for support, the inmate shall be required to remit to such persons a minimum of one-third of his/her net income or that amount which may be required by court order. Net income is defined as income after taxes and ADC rent. If the inmate does not have any dependents, the one-third should go into a savings account.

8. The inmate will normally be allowed to spend up to an amount equal to the approved weekly commissary draw.

9. The remaining balance of his/her earnings will be deposited to the inmate's ADC account. Any disbursements out of this account must be approved by the Warden/Center Supervisor.

10. All fund balances of an inmate's account will be released to the inmate upon parole or termination of sentence.

11. The inmate may provide his/her own clothing and items needed for work at his/her expense.

1. The Department of Correction will not be liable for medical services for those Work/Study Release inmates on Furlough Status (AR 1200-A).

2. Medical service charges not covered by Workman's Compensation or other forms of insurance will be handled by the Department through its medical services program.

3. In the event medical treatment is required at work, the Warden/Center Supervisor and/or work supervisor is/are to be notified immediately. Appropriate medical response measures will be initiated following notification.

4. An inmate who procures medical treatment while engaged in a working capacity, without consulting or advising Department staff, will be responsible for such incurred costs. Disciplinary action will follow and may result in program expulsion.