LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Some 200 prisoners who are eligible for early parole may be put to work picking up trash along Arkansas roads.

Prison officials said the inmates would be the first to participate in a new program developed by Gov. Mike Beebe's office. The program is aimed at reducing prison overcrowding and at reducing litter on the state's highways.

Beebe said the program would allow an inmate to get out up to 90 days earlier on the condition that he or she spend two days a week cleaning the roads of trash.

The state Parole Board recently made 820 inmates eligible for early parole under the state Emergency Powers Act.

A prison spokeswoman said none has been released yet, but up to 200 of them could be released early to pick up litter.