Rules for parolees revised to reduce returns to prison

In an effort to ease prison crowding, the Arkansas Parole Board on Thursday approved revisions to rules for parole violators.

The board voted unanimously to apply changes to the Arkansas Department of Community Correction’s Offender Violation Guide, which will allow for the review and possible release of about 400 parole violators in county jails across the state. The 400 violators are currently jailed on technical violations, which are any violation of parole other than new illegal activity.

“Up to now, we have returned offenders who had not committed a new criminal offense and could be better served with alternative sanctions, possibly in the community,” board chairman John Felts said in a statement.

Under the new rules, an arrest warrant will be automatically issued for offenders accused of a violent felony or violent or sex-related misdemeanor and those who evade supervision for 180 days or more, but all other requests for a warrant will be reviewed by a member of the board who will determine whether or not to issue the warrant.

"Every day, local law enforcement officers must demonstrate cause to a judge in order to obtain an arrest warrant, we are simply enforcing a similar standard for warrants issued by the Parole Board,” Felts said.

Read Friday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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