§ 16-90-1109 — Information concerning confinement or commitment

(a) (1) Upon request of the victim, the Division of Correction, the Arkansas State Hospital, a local or regional hospital, local or regional mental health facility, or any other facility to which the defendant is committed by the court shall: (A) Promptly inform the victim, through the use of the victim notification system under § 12-12-1201 et seq. or other method of personal communication, of the estimated date of the defendant's release from confinement from a court-ordered commitment under § 5-2-301 et seq., if reasonably ascertainable; (B) Inform the victim at least thirty (30) days before release of the defendant on furlough or to a work release, halfway house, or other community program, if applicable; (C) Inform the victim as soon as possible but preferably at least thirty (30) days before release of the defendant from a local or regional hospital or local or regional mental health facility, if applicable; and (D) Promptly inform the victim of the occurrence of any of the following events concerning the defendant: (i) An escape from a correctional or mental health facility or community program; (ii) A recapture; (iii) A decision of the Governor to commute the sentence or to pardon; (iv) A release from confinement and any conditions attached to the release; (v) A discharge or conditional release or modification of a previously ordered conditional release from a court-ordered commitment under § 5-2-315 ; or (vi) The defendant's death. (2) The requirement to inform a victim by a local or regional hospital or a local or regional mental health facility under this subsection may be accomplished by notifying by telephone or other electronic means the Arkansas State Hospital of the change of status of the defendant, and the Arkansas State Hospital shall then notify the victim through the victim notification system under § 12-12-1201 et seq. or other method of personal communication. (b) (1) At least thirty (30) days before a Post-Prison Transfer Board hearing concerning the defendant, if requested by the victim, the board shall inform the victim of the hearing and of the victim's right to submit to the board a victim impact statement and shall promptly inform the victim of any decision of the board. (2) (A) It is the responsibility of the victim or his or her next of kin to notify the board of any change in address or telephone number. (B) It is the responsibility of the victim or his or her next of kin to notify the board after the date of commitment of any change in regard to the desire to be notified of any future parole or post-release supervision hearings.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 659,§ 133, eff. 1/1/2024. Amended by Act 2023, No. 659,§ 132, eff. 1/1/2024. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 867, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2017, No. 429,§ 3, eff. 8/1/2017. Acts 1997, No. 1262, § 9.