Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: inmates and wards: classification.

Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to classify inmates and wards in order to prevent inmate and ward sexual violence and to promote inmate and ward safety, as specified. Existing law also requires the department to consider specified risk factors when classifying and housing inmates. This bill would instead require the department to classify inmates and wards in order to prevent violence and would revise the risk factors, as specified, for assessing inmates or wards for risk of victimization or risk of being abusive, providing different factors based on whether the inmate or ward is being assessed for risk of victimization or of abusive behavior, and based on whether the inmate or ward is in a facility for male or female inmates. The bill would also provide directions to the department related to those risk factors and the placement of inmates and wards. The bill would prohibit the department from requiring an inmate or ward to disclose or report his or her sexual orientation or gender identity and from disciplining or punishing an inmate or ward for failing to disclose or report his or her sexual orientation or gender identity, as provided. The bill would prohibit the above provisions from being construed to require or justify expansion or construction of department facilities.