H0069. Inmate Reentry

Summary

An act relating to inmate reentry; providing definitions; directing the Department of Corrections to develop and administer a reentry program for nonviolent offenders which is intended to divert nonviolent offenders from long periods of incarceration; requiring that the program include intensive substance abuse treatment and rehabilitative programming; providing for the minimum length of service in the program; providing that any portion of a sentence before placement in the program does not count as progress toward program completion; specifying eligibility criteria for a nonviolent offender to be placed into the reentry program; directing the court to screen and select eligible offenders for the program based on specified considerations; directing the department to notify the nonviolent offender's sentencing court to obtain approval before the nonviolent offender is placed into the reentry program; requiring the department to notify the state attorney; authorizing the state attorney to file objections to placing the offender into the reentry program within a specified period; requiring the sentencing court to notify the department of the court's decision to approve or disapprove the requested placement within a specified period; requiring the nonviolent offender to undergo an education assessment and a full substance abuse assessment if admitted into the reentry program; requiring the offender to be enrolled in an adult education program in specified circumstances; requiring that assessments of vocational skills and future career education be provided to the offender; requiring that certain reevaluation be made periodically; providing that the nonviolent offender is subject to the disciplinary rules of the department; specifying the reasons for which the offender may be terminated from the reentry program; requiring that the department submit a report to the sentencing court at least 30 days before the nonviolent offender is scheduled to complete the reentry program; setting forth the issues to be addressed in the report; providing a court may schedule a hearing to consider any modifications to an imposed sentence; requiring the sentencing court to issue an order modifying the sentence imposed and placing the nonviolent offender on drug offender probation if the nonviolent offender's performance is satisfactory; authorizing the court to revoke probation and impose the original sentence in specified circumstances; authorizing the court to require the offender to complete a postadjudicatory drug court program in specified circumstances; directing the department to implement the reentry program using available resources; requiring the department to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature detailing the extent of implementation of the reentry program, specifying information to be provided and outlining future goals and recommendations; authorizing the department to enter into contracts with qualified individuals, agencies, or corporations for services for the reentry program; authorizing the department to impose administrative or protective confinement as necessary; authorizing the department to establish a system of incentives within the reentry program which the department may use to promote participation in rehabilitative programs and the orderly operation of institutions and facilities; providing that the section does not create a right to placement in the reentry program or any right to placement or early release under supervision of any type; providing that the section does not create a cause of action related to the program; providing that specified provisions are not severable; directing the department to develop a system for tracking recidivism, including, but not limited to, rearrests and recommitment of nonviolent offenders who successfully complete the reentry program, and to report on recidivism in its annual report of the program; directing the department to adopt rules; providing an effective date.