By C1 Staff
LITTLE ROCK — Senate rule changes proposed by state correction officials have been approved by an Arkansas legislative panel.
The Baxter Bulletin reports that a rules and regulations subcommittee approved changes that would aid in decreasing prison overcrowding; the changes would include new vocational training and increase access for the prison system’s “boot camp” program.
Final consideration is up to the Arkansas Legislative Council.
Officials also want to increase the number of criminal offenses that disqualify inmates from joining the boot camp program. They would like to include more recently enacted laws, such as human trafficking.
Other proposed changes include allowing inmates within six months of parole to be transferred to a transitional housing facility in Pine Bluff to learn demolition on old properties. The city supports this initiative, as it would help raze 600 homes on its demolition list.
Correction and parole spokeswoman Dina Tyler said that beyond cutting costs, the goal is to decrease the likelihood that an ex-convict would reoffend.