Provides that, to the extent practicable, any incarcerated individual who is receiving mental health services or participating in a mental health program shall not have the time spent participating in such mental health services or programs deducted from any other activity time such incarcerated individual receives.
Relates to establishing minimum rules for the treatment of incarcerated individuals; provides that the United Nations standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners, also known as the Nelson Mandela rules, are hereby incorporated by reference.
This bill expands eligibility for prison work release programs by adjusting who qualifies. It allows incarcerated individuals eligible for parole within two years (or 18 months for certain drug offenders) to participate, while maintaining exclusions for those convicted of escape, specific violent offenses (like aggravated harassment), or sex crimes. Key provisions include requiring 18 months served for second felony drug offenders and barring participation for individuals convicted of murder, rape, or persistent sexual abuse. The bill also mandates department reviews if parole is denied during participation and requires commissioner approval for certain high-risk cases.
This bill mandates a comprehensive study on the relationship between the corrections system and the child welfare system. The study will examine incarcerated individuals' prior involvement with child welfare and juvenile systems, including details like past foster care, age during placement, ethnicity, and gender. It requires the Commissioner to conduct surveys of a random sample of at least ten percent of individuals in state, county, and municipal correctional facilities. Participant confidentiality and informed consent are required for these surveys. A written report with findings, conclusions, and recommendations must be submitted to the governor and legislative leaders.
This bill prohibits placing any incarcerated individual under 18 years old in segregated confinement under any circumstances. It directly affects minors in correctional facilities by banning this practice, which involves isolating individuals in separate cells. The key provision amends the correction law to explicitly state that "incarcerated individuals under the age of eighteen shall not be placed in segregated confinement for any reason," with limited exceptions referenced in the text. The policy change updates facility procedures to protect minors from this form of confinement.
Allows individuals detained in any correctional or local correctional facility to vote at polling places located within the facility if they are registered to vote and are otherwise eligible; provides for polling places within correctional facilities; provides for automatic changes in voter status; includes bi-partisan boards of elections officials and inspectors as persons who may visit correctional facilities.
Enacts the "Michael K. Williams law" to establish a grant program to incentivize counties and municipalities to reduce prison populations; makes an appropriation therefor.
Expands the health department's review of correctional health services by including a biennial study of health care staffing at facilities operated by the department of corrections and community supervision.
Relates to the housing of transgender or intersex incarcerated individuals; authorizes the sheriff to assign a transgender or intersex incarcerated individual to any facility housing unit which shall ensure the incarcerated individual's health and safety.
Creates an identification card program for incarcerated individuals in local correctional facilities; requires such identification cards to be identical to non-driver identification cards issued to the general public; waives fees for such identification cards.
