The first 100 inmates to take part in Governor Sanders’ recidivism reduction pilot program are scheduled to complete their education early next month. The program was approved by the Arkansas Board of Corrections in August 2025. It is designed to assist inmates with reintegrating into life outside of prison by assisting with housing, official personal documentation (such as driver’s licenses and social security cards), community resources, and employment. The inability to acquire these items is part of the reason many newly released individuals re-offend.
The program requires the Department of Corrections, Workforce Connections, and the Department of Commerce to cooperate with one another in a whole-of-government approach to rehabilitate inmates prior to release. The hope is this will reduce the revolving door many prisons face when newly released individuals are quickly reincarcerated for either committing new crimes or violating the conditions of parole or probation.
The program starts six months prior to an inmate being released. In addition to assisting individuals with finding housing and getting the official documents required by employers and society, the pilot program also connects inmates with social programs that assists with addiction and mental health needs and education. For the latter, the government is partnering with the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College so that these individuals can obtain a general education diploma, career-readiness certificate, and manufacturing production training.
The Department of Commerce is working to identify potential employers throughout the state of Arkansas where the individuals participating in the program can interview and find employment after they are released.
