(a) An inmate who was convicted and sentenced as an adult for an offense he or she committed before he or she attained eighteen (18) years of age shall not be prevented from participating in an educational, training, or rehabilitative program that is otherwise available to other inmates in the general population of the correctional facility in which he or she is housed.(b)(1) The Department of Corrections shall regularly assess the impact and efficacy of educational, training, and rehabilitative programs available to inmates of correctional facilities owned or operated by the department.(2) The assessment required under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be conducted by an employee or contractor of the department who has doctoral-level education and experience in evaluating the efficacy of educational, training, and rehabilitative programs.(3) The results of the assessments required under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be incorporated into the report on the state of the department required under § 25-43-403(d).(c) The Secretary of the Department of Corrections shall:(1) Coordinate with the Chief Workforce Officer to ensure that workforce training provided to of the department required under § 25-43-403(d).(c) The Secretary of the Department of Corrections shall:(1) Coordinate with the Chief Workforce Officer to ensure that workforce training provided to inmates allows for future employment in fields with adequate demand; and(2) Coordinate with community-based providers to ensure that inmates are being provided appropriate training and programming in preparation for reintegration into the workforce.Amended by Act 2023, No. 659,§ 106, eff. 1/1/2024.Added by Act 2019, No. 821,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019.
Arkansas Legal Code