Restitution centers.

Existing law establishes restitution centers for inmates to provide a means for those sentenced to prison to be able to pay their victims' financial restitution, as specified. This bill would revise what is included by the term "restitution" for these purposes, and provide that inmates who commit crimes involving direct victims shall receive priority placement in restitution centers, as specified. The bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, no later than June 30, 2011, to reopen and operate 2 restitution centers. The bill would provide that this requirement shall not become operative if certain reforms are implemented, as specified. Existing law provides that a court may order the department to place an eligible defendant in a restitution center if the court makes a restitution order or if a restitution agreement is entered into by the victims and the defendant. The bill would specify that the court may order the department to place an eligible defendant in a restitution center if the court makes an order for a restitution fine. Existing law provides criteria for eligibility for placement in a restitution center, including in part, that a defendant is eligible for placement in a restitution center if he or she has not served a prison term within the 5 years prior to the present conviction, does not have a criminal history of a conviction for the sale of drugs or for a crime involving violence or sex, and did not receive a sentence of more than 36 months. This bill would revise those criteria to provide, among other criteria, that a defendant is eligible for placement in a restitution center if he or she does not have a criminal history of a conviction for the sale of drugs within the previous 5 years, or for an offense requiring registration as a sex offender, or for a serious or violent felony, and the defendant did not receive a sentence of more than 60 months for the current offense or offenses. The bill would also state findings and declarations of the Legislature pertaining to restitution centers and inmates.