Section Number:

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS

864

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Board Approval Date:

STATE OF ARKANSAS
BOARD OF CORRECTIONS

Page Number:

7/18/90
Supersedes:

Dated:

864
Reference:

2/24/88
Effective Date:
7/20/90

SUBJECT: Publications

I.

AUTHORITY:
The Board of Correction is vested with the authority to promulgate this Administrative Regulation by
Act 50 of 1968, as amended.

II.

PURPOSE:
This Administrative Regulation establishes the process by which the Arkansas Department of Correction
determines publications to be received by the inmate population.

III.

APPLICABILITY:
To departmental staff and all inmates within the confines of the Department of Correction.

IV.

V.

DEFINITIONS:
A.

Publications: Books, magazines, catalogs, advertising brochures,
religious tracts, newspaper or the like.

B.

Commercial Outlet: Publisher, bookstore, educational or vocational
institute and the like.

C.

Charitable Outlet:
A religious group or an incorporated nonprofit
organization established to promote literacy or to provide literature for
indigent inmates.

POLICY:
Inmates may receive publications from recognized commercial, religious or charitable outlets. All
publications are subject to inspection, and may be rejected if found to be detrimental to the security,
discipline or good order of the institution or if they propose, condone or provide information likely to
facilitate criminal activity.

VI.

PROCEDURES:

AR 864 Publications

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A.

The Warden/Center Supervisor shall designate staff to review incoming
publications.

B.

Publications may be rejected if they are believed to contain, but not limited to the
following types of information:
1.

Providing instructions for devising weapons or for combat
techniques, which would endanger institutional security or safety.

2.

Encouraging or describing methods of escape.

3.

Providing instructions for production of alcohol or other drugs.

4.

Promoting illegal discrimination, violence, verbal or sexual abuse
or inflammatory attitudes toward any racial, sexual, age,
handicapped or other individuals or group(s).

5.

Encouraging or instructing in the commission of criminal activity
or depicting in graphic and provocative fashion illegal actions
including illegal sexual behavior.

Publications recommended for rejection will be referred to the Warden/Center Supervisor for
final decision. Decisions must be made on the contents of an individual publication, not on the
basis of a list of approved publications or previous issues.
C.

The Warden must approve or reject the publication within 30 days of receipt. If the publication
is rejected the inmate must be notified, in writing, of any decision to reject and the basis for
rejection of the publication. The inmate is also notified of appeal procedures and options for
disposing of the publication. The inmate must sign that the notice of rejection has been received.
Should the inmate refuse to sign, an employee will attest to the fact that the inmate was duly
notified.

D.

The decision to reject a publication may be appealed to the Publications Review Committee:
The Assistant Director of Institutions, the Assistant Director of Field Services, and the
Administrator of Chaplaincy Services. Depending upon the origin of the appeal, either of the
Assistant Directors may chair the committee. The appeal must be initiated within 10 days of the
receipt of notification of the Warden/Center Supervisor's recommendation to reject the
publication.

E.

Any rejected publication will be held safe by the Warden/Center Supervisor until the appeal
process has been completed, or until the 10-day period for filing an appeal has expired.

F.

Options for disposing of an unacceptable publication are:
1.

Destruction,

2

AR 864 Publications

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3.

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Return of the publication to the sender at the expense of the inmate
unless return postage is guaranteed,
Mailing the publication to a third party at the expense of the
inmate.

AR864

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