SB537

Senate Bill 537, titled the 'Earning Safe Reentry Through Work Act,' establishes a sentence credit program for individuals currently on probation, parole, or post-release supervision in Arkansas. Under this act, supervised offenders who maintain 'eligible employment'—defined as at least 130 hours of work per 30-day period—can earn 'work-for-time' credits. These credits allow for a one-day reduction in the offender's sentence for every 30 days of documented employment, capped so that no credits are earned within the final 60 days of the adjusted sentence. To receive credit, offenders must provide verifiable documentation to their community supervision officer. The bill mandates forfeiture of all accrued credits if an offender’s supervision is revoked, if they commit a new crime, or if they submit fraudulent documentation. Decisions regarding the denial or forfeiture of credits are final and cannot be appealed. The act includes an emergency clause to allow for immediate implementation to address recidivism risks.