TO CREATE THE EARNING SAFE REENTRY THROUGH WORK ACT; AND TO CREATE A SENTENCE CREDIT PROGRAM FOR A PERSON ON PROBATION, PAROLE, OR POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION TO EARN TIME CREDITS THROUGH EMPLOYMENT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Workers on supervision earn limited sentence credits

Arkansas creates sentence credits for people on probation, parole, or post-release supervision under its Division of Community Correction. This includes people supervised in another state. Only offenses committed on or after the section’s effective date qualify. Each qualifying 30-day period earns five credits, each worth one day off the sentence. You must work at least 130 verified paid hours during that period, through one job or several jobs combined. You must provide work records at every supervision meeting, such as pay stubs, employment letters, or contracts. Your officer verifies employment and files the records and credits within five working days, excluding weekends and state or federal holidays. No credits are earned during the final 60 days before your sentence’s adjusted end date. You lose all earned credits if supervision is revoked, you are convicted of a new crime, or you submit fraudulent work records. Credits are denied when records cannot be verified, are inaccurate, or are missing from your file. Officers must record denial reasons; you have no right to appeal a denial or loss of credits. Officers must notify the sentencing court at least 60 days before the adjusted end date, including credits earned through that notice. The emergency clause sets effectiveness upon the Governor’s approval, expiration of the veto period without approval or veto, or final veto override.