Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas legislative panel has approved several rule changes proposed by state correction officials in an effort to decrease prison overcrowding.
On Monday, a rules and regulations subcommittee approved the changes that would permit a new vocational training program and increase access to the prison system’s “boot camp " program. The proposed rules will go to the Arkansas Legislative Council for final consideration.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the number of inmates in Arkansas prisons is about 18,000, which is several thousand over capacity .
State corrections rules only allow first-time offenders to attend the boot camp program, often used instead of prison time for nonviolent, non-sex offenders. Officials want to open the program up to second-time offenders who haven’t been through the program to free up bed space in state prisons.