Arkansas’ Post-Prison Transfer Board has operated with one of its seven seats vacant since Feb. 1, prompting lawmakers to seek information about whether the missing member may have affected close parole decisions.
The vacancy was discussed Thursday, Nov. 12, during testimony before the Joint Performance Review Committee. Committee members asked board Chairman Boyce Hamlet whether the board could identify cases in which four members supported releasing an inmate while two opposed release. Under Arkansas law, at least five votes are required to transfer an inmate to parole or post-release supervision.
A 4-2 vote in favor of release would therefore fall short of the required threshold. Hamlet said he would determine whether the board’s software could produce a tally of such cases.
“I don’t know that we can capture that down in our software. If we can, I will definitely get that to you.”
The board’s seven members are appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. State law directs the governor to appoint someone to serve the remainder of a vacant member’s term, with the appointment also requiring Senate confirmation.
Hamlet told the committee that he has discussed the open seat with the governor’s office. He said he was told the governor wanted to be “very deliberate and intentional” in selecting a replacement. Hamlet did not provide a timetable for an appointment.
He said the vacancy has not halted the board’s work. Hamlet has assumed most of the field interviews normally handled by the chairman, while other board members and staff have taken on additional responsibilities.
“We make sure that everything gets done when it’s supposed to be done, and that nothing falls through the cracks.”
How the board handles close cases
The board holds deliberations twice each month, allowing members to discuss cases that require additional consideration. Inmates may also ask the board to reconsider a decision.
- The board has seven authorized seats, with one vacant since Feb. 1.
- At least five votes are required for a transfer to parole or post-release supervision.
- Hamlet agreed to check whether board records can show how often a 4-2 vote in favor of release occurred.
The committee hearing raised questions about whether the vacancy changed any release outcomes. The requested tally is intended to show how often the board came within one vote of approving a transfer while operating with six members.
