The authority of the Board of Correction to promulgate this Administrative Rule is vested in Act 50 of 1968, First Extraordinary Session, as amended; Act 418 of 1987, Regular Session; Act 684 of 1991, Regular Session; and A.C.A. 12-28-601 -- 12-28-606.

To establish the policy by which the Board of Correction may, when the prison population exceeds 98% of the rated capacity, release inmates from the Department of Correction prior to their normal release date. This policy also allows for the 98% factor to be applied separately to the male and female prison population.

To the Board of Correction; all departmental employees, especially those involved in release processing; and all inmates.

It shall be the policy of the Department of Correction and the Board of Correction to review the inmate population of the Department and, at the Board's discretion, invoke the Emergency Powers Act for the male segment of the population, the female segment of the population, or both, depending upon the segment(s) of the population exceeding 98% of the rated capacity.

At such time the male population, the female population, or the combined total population of the Department reach or exceed 98% of rated capacity, the Director of the Department of Correction will cause a list of those inmates eligible for release within a period of time, not to exceed 90 days, to be presented to the Board of Correction for their consideration.

The Board of Correction may invoke the Emergency Powers Act to affect those inmates of the male population, female population or both.

The Board of Correction may also specify the number of days affected by the Act (not to exceed 90 days) and whether inmates eligible for parole or inmates eligible for discharge are affected.