Little Rock, Arkansas – In a unanimous vote last Friday, the Arkansas Board of Corrections approved Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ new pilot program aimed at reducing recidivism across the state’s prison system. The initiative, which will begin with 100 inmates, is designed to address the root causes of reoffending by helping incarcerated individuals prepare for re-entry into society.
“As Governor, I have been tough on crime, which is why I signed the Protect Act, opened more than 1,500 prison beds in existing facilities, and am working to build a new 3,000-bed prison,” said Governor Sanders. “But a major goal of incarceration is rehabilitation, and right now, our state isn’t doing enough to prepare inmates for re-entry into society. This pilot program will address many of the issues that cause former inmates to recommit, like lack of housing, employment, and substance abuse treatment. Ultimately, we want to expand this program statewide to lower Arkansas’ recidivism rate and prepare inmates for a healthy, well-adjusted life outside prison.”
The program will be launched at an existing Arkansas Department of Corrections facility and will focus on inmates within six months of their scheduled release. It will repurpose existing resources and operate without additional funding for now.
Housing, Employment, and Community Support at the Core
One of the most urgent challenges for individuals exiting prison is finding safe and stable housing. To meet this need, the pilot program will involve coordination between state agencies, community groups, and employers to secure transitional housing. Some supervision terms will also be adjusted to allow participants to live, work, and travel together when part of structured employment partnerships…