The authority of the Board of Correction to promulgate this Administrative Regulation is confirmed in Act 50 of 1968, First Extraordinary Session; Act 510 of 1971, Regular Session; Act 273 of 1987, Regular Session; Act 626 of 1987, Regular Session; Act 506 of 1987, Regular Session; and Act 429 of 1989, Regular Session.
To ensure a uniform method of awarding meritorious good time pursuant to the provisions of the Arkansas Codes.
To departmental staff, all inmates and parolees.
It shall be the policy of the Department of Correction to award inmates and parolees meritorious good time as a result of good behavior, good work habits, appearance, overall adjustment and participation in self-improvement programs.
Meritorious good time is the reduction of an inmate's sentence and parole eligibility date on the basis of good discipline, good behavior, work practices and job responsibilities while under the control and supervision of the Arkansas Department of Correction. This reduction can be up to thirty days for each month. Meritorious good time is not something to which an inmate is entitled as a matter of right, but is awarded in proportion to his good discipline, good behavior, work practices and job responsibilities.
No inmate may be awarded any meritorious good time while located in punitive isolation as a result of disciplinary action.
Meritorious good time may be awarded and credited according to which of the four classes an inmate is assigned as set forth in the provisions of the Arkansas Codes, Administrative Regulation(s) and Administrative Directive(s).
The Classes with corresponding meritorious good time are as follows:
Inmates who have appeared before and been approved for parole by the Arkansas Board of Parole and Community Rehabilitation automatically become Class I-C (unless they are already in Class I-B or I-A) until their actual release at which time they are placed in I-P status.
Inmates currently on parole may be placed in meritorious good time status pursuant to the appropriate Administrative Directive.
Inmates sentenced with other than a definite number of years (i.e., Life) may be credited with good time which may be awarded upon a commutation to a term of years. Inmates serving Life without Parole cannot be awarded good time.
Upon recommendation of the Disciplinary Hearing Officer, an inmate may be reduced one or more classes as a result of disciplinary action. An inmate may be reassigned or demoted to the Class II status by the Unit Classification Committee. Such an administrative reduction may be made upon the recommendation of the inmate's supervisor or other reports that might be filed. If this administrative action is taken, the inmate shall be afforded a hearing before the Unit Classification Committee at which time the inmate may explain why such action should not be taken. Any administrative reduction will be without prejudice.
The Department of Correction shall solicit the recommendation of the sheriff(s) of the county where the inmate was housed prior to incarceration within the Department of Correction. Pursuant to Act 626 of 1987, Regular Session, meritorious good time may only be given for being housed in a jail awaiting transfer on the conviction resulting in sentence(s) from that county. Meritorious good time will be calculated upon reception within the Department in accordance with the appropriate Administrative Directive.
Under the provisions of Arkansas Codes, Act 273 of 1987 Regular Session, as amended, an inmate may be awarded up to ninety days of additional meritorious good time per incarceration (not accumulative) based on the following schedule:
Requirements | Additional MGT Awarded |
* Successful completion of G.E.D. Program | Up to 60 days MGT |
* Successful completion of SATP Program | Up to 60 days MGT |
* Successful completion of a Vo-Tech Program or any program for which an inmate may receive vo-tech training certification | Up to 60 days MGT |
* Successful completion of a college course | Up to 20 days MGT per course |
* Maintain I-A status continuously for twelve months. If an inmate does not have twelve months remaining on his/her sentence then the award may be given after a period of at least - six months | Up to 90 days MGT |
(The starred (*) activities may be completed in a county jail or in the community while on bond, by participating in programs which are operated with funds from and/or accredited by the appropriate state regulatory agency. Other programs must be certified in advance, by direct action of the Board of Correction.)
Maintain I-B status continuously for twelve months | Up to 60 days MGT |
Maintain I-C status on specialized job for twelve months (specialized job such as head cook, bookkeeper, etc.) | Up to 60 days MGT |
Inmate who does not qualify for other programs, but who receives meritorious good time and has. a good work record, attitude and appearance record, if the receipt of meritorious good time would aid him/her in early release to participate in family assistance and/or further education | Up to 60 days MGT |
An act performed without solicitation, and the inmate's performance averts serious threat to security, tragedy or loss of limb or property | Up to 60 days MGT |
Heroic act(s) performed without solicitation defined as an act(s) that directly resulted in a saving of a life or lives | Up to 9 0 days MGT |
For any of the above awards, an inmate must be in at least Class II status and must be recommended by the Classification Committee to the Director. The Director will approve or deny the recommendation. Copies of the application(s) denied by the Director will be forwarded to the Board of Correction.
IN NO CASE CAN THE TOTAL AWARD OF ADDITIONAL/ MERITORIOUS GOOD TIME EXCEED NINETY DAYS MGT PER INCARCERATION.
The effective date to begin calculation of the awarding up to ninety days meritorious good time per Act 273 of the 1987 Regular Session will be March 17, 1987.
Any person who has been arraigned on a felony charge and is in jail or on bond awaiting disposition of charges or who has been sentenced to the Arkansas Department of Correction and is in jail awaiting transfer, may earn meritorious good time by completing G.E.D. requirements, a vocational-technical program, a college course, or a residential treatment program for substance abuse. An inmate may be credited for meritorious good time only after they have been received by the Arkansas Department of Correction. In order to receive credit, certification of completion of the activity must be received by the Administrator of Classification directly from the authority of the issuing agency or program. It is the responsibility of the inmate to request and authorize said certification to be furnished to the Arkansas Department of Correction.
The effective date to begin calculation of awarding meritorious good time per Act 429 of 1989 will be March 9, 1989.
Board of Correction Approval Date: 01/22/91
Attorney General Review Date: 01/22/91
Date Filed Secy, of State: 01/24/91
Supersedes: AR 826 (EMERG.)
Dated: 12/11/90
004.00.91 Ark. Code R. 002