CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 620Introduced by Assembly Member HoldenFebruary 14, 2017 An act to add Section 3055 to the Penal Code, relating to prisoners. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 620, as introduced, Holden. Prisoners: trauma informed therapy.Existing law authorizes the Board of Parole Hearings to establish and enforce rules and regulations under which inmates committed to state prisons may be allowed to go upon parole outside the prison buildings and enclosures when eligible for parole. Existing law requires the board to meet with each inmate before the inmates minimum eligible parole date, as specified, for the purposes of reviewing and documenting the inmates activities and conduct pertinent to parole eligibility. Existing law charges the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with administering the state prisons.This bill would require the department to provide meaningful opportunity for the successful release of inmates by providing individual introspective trauma informed therapy, as defined, for specified inmates at least 1 year prior to an offenders minimum eligible parole date. The bill provides that, among other purposes, meaningful opportunity means access to therapy to address traumatic experiences that lead to substance abuse or violent actions. The bill would authorize the board to consider an offenders informed trauma therapy in granting parole.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 3055 is added to the Penal Code, to read:3055. (a) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide meaningful opportunity for successful release for adult and juvenile offenders by offering access to individual introspective trauma informed therapy by clinical social workers, psychologists, or accredited violence peer counselors for those offenders in need of this therapy.(2) The introspective trauma informed therapy is therapy that is peer reviewed and represents best practices for that therapy.(b) A clinical diagnosis is not required for access to the mental health services described in this section.(c) For purposes of this section, meaningful opportunity means all of the following are available, if needed, to the offender:(1) Access to rehabilitative programming in a timely manner after entry and before parole hearings.(2) Access to trauma informed therapy that seeks to heal and rehabilitate the root causes of the traumatic experience that lead to substance abuse or violent actions.(3) Access to therapy methods that can be practiced by the offender in an individual or community setting as a form of continuing care for traumatic experiences.(d) For purposes of this section, trauma informed therapy means therapy that includes all of the following:(1) Therapy that revolves around intervening regarding neglected or unknown symptoms of the individuals trauma.(2) Therapy that increases understanding of how and why trauma affects the individual.(3) Mental health care that provides tools for coping and dealing with trauma.(e) For purposes of this section, trauma means emotional distress caused by a damaging event or repetitive events that exceeds the individuals ability to cope with, or integrate emotions from, the experience causing the emotional distress, and which leads to destructive symptoms and behavior.(f) The therapy described in this section shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than one year prior to the offenders minimum eligible parole date.(g) The Board of Parole Hearings may consider the offenders introspective trauma informed therapy in granting parole.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 620Introduced by Assembly Member HoldenFebruary 14, 2017 An act to add Section 3055 to the Penal Code, relating to prisoners. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 620, as introduced, Holden. Prisoners: trauma informed therapy.Existing law authorizes the Board of Parole Hearings to establish and enforce rules and regulations under which inmates committed to state prisons may be allowed to go upon parole outside the prison buildings and enclosures when eligible for parole. Existing law requires the board to meet with each inmate before the inmates minimum eligible parole date, as specified, for the purposes of reviewing and documenting the inmates activities and conduct pertinent to parole eligibility. Existing law charges the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with administering the state prisons.This bill would require the department to provide meaningful opportunity for the successful release of inmates by providing individual introspective trauma informed therapy, as defined, for specified inmates at least 1 year prior to an offenders minimum eligible parole date. The bill provides that, among other purposes, meaningful opportunity means access to therapy to address traumatic experiences that lead to substance abuse or violent actions. The bill would authorize the board to consider an offenders informed trauma therapy in granting parole.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill No. 620
Introduced by Assembly Member HoldenFebruary 14, 2017
Introduced by Assembly Member Holden
February 14, 2017
An act to add Section 3055 to the Penal Code, relating to prisoners.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 620, as introduced, Holden. Prisoners: trauma informed therapy.
Existing law authorizes the Board of Parole Hearings to establish and enforce rules and regulations under which inmates committed to state prisons may be allowed to go upon parole outside the prison buildings and enclosures when eligible for parole. Existing law requires the board to meet with each inmate before the inmates minimum eligible parole date, as specified, for the purposes of reviewing and documenting the inmates activities and conduct pertinent to parole eligibility. Existing law charges the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with administering the state prisons.This bill would require the department to provide meaningful opportunity for the successful release of inmates by providing individual introspective trauma informed therapy, as defined, for specified inmates at least 1 year prior to an offenders minimum eligible parole date. The bill provides that, among other purposes, meaningful opportunity means access to therapy to address traumatic experiences that lead to substance abuse or violent actions. The bill would authorize the board to consider an offenders informed trauma therapy in granting parole.
Existing law authorizes the Board of Parole Hearings to establish and enforce rules and regulations under which inmates committed to state prisons may be allowed to go upon parole outside the prison buildings and enclosures when eligible for parole. Existing law requires the board to meet with each inmate before the inmates minimum eligible parole date, as specified, for the purposes of reviewing and documenting the inmates activities and conduct pertinent to parole eligibility. Existing law charges the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with administering the state prisons.
This bill would require the department to provide meaningful opportunity for the successful release of inmates by providing individual introspective trauma informed therapy, as defined, for specified inmates at least 1 year prior to an offenders minimum eligible parole date. The bill provides that, among other purposes, meaningful opportunity means access to therapy to address traumatic experiences that lead to substance abuse or violent actions. The bill would authorize the board to consider an offenders informed trauma therapy in granting parole.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 3055 is added to the Penal Code, to read:3055. (a) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide meaningful opportunity for successful release for adult and juvenile offenders by offering access to individual introspective trauma informed therapy by clinical social workers, psychologists, or accredited violence peer counselors for those offenders in need of this therapy.(2) The introspective trauma informed therapy is therapy that is peer reviewed and represents best practices for that therapy.(b) A clinical diagnosis is not required for access to the mental health services described in this section.(c) For purposes of this section, meaningful opportunity means all of the following are available, if needed, to the offender:(1) Access to rehabilitative programming in a timely manner after entry and before parole hearings.(2) Access to trauma informed therapy that seeks to heal and rehabilitate the root causes of the traumatic experience that lead to substance abuse or violent actions.(3) Access to therapy methods that can be practiced by the offender in an individual or community setting as a form of continuing care for traumatic experiences.(d) For purposes of this section, trauma informed therapy means therapy that includes all of the following:(1) Therapy that revolves around intervening regarding neglected or unknown symptoms of the individuals trauma.(2) Therapy that increases understanding of how and why trauma affects the individual.(3) Mental health care that provides tools for coping and dealing with trauma.(e) For purposes of this section, trauma means emotional distress caused by a damaging event or repetitive events that exceeds the individuals ability to cope with, or integrate emotions from, the experience causing the emotional distress, and which leads to destructive symptoms and behavior.(f) The therapy described in this section shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than one year prior to the offenders minimum eligible parole date.(g) The Board of Parole Hearings may consider the offenders introspective trauma informed therapy in granting parole.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 3055 is added to the Penal Code, to read:3055. (a) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide meaningful opportunity for successful release for adult and juvenile offenders by offering access to individual introspective trauma informed therapy by clinical social workers, psychologists, or accredited violence peer counselors for those offenders in need of this therapy.(2) The introspective trauma informed therapy is therapy that is peer reviewed and represents best practices for that therapy.(b) A clinical diagnosis is not required for access to the mental health services described in this section.(c) For purposes of this section, meaningful opportunity means all of the following are available, if needed, to the offender:(1) Access to rehabilitative programming in a timely manner after entry and before parole hearings.(2) Access to trauma informed therapy that seeks to heal and rehabilitate the root causes of the traumatic experience that lead to substance abuse or violent actions.(3) Access to therapy methods that can be practiced by the offender in an individual or community setting as a form of continuing care for traumatic experiences.(d) For purposes of this section, trauma informed therapy means therapy that includes all of the following:(1) Therapy that revolves around intervening regarding neglected or unknown symptoms of the individuals trauma.(2) Therapy that increases understanding of how and why trauma affects the individual.(3) Mental health care that provides tools for coping and dealing with trauma.(e) For purposes of this section, trauma means emotional distress caused by a damaging event or repetitive events that exceeds the individuals ability to cope with, or integrate emotions from, the experience causing the emotional distress, and which leads to destructive symptoms and behavior.(f) The therapy described in this section shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than one year prior to the offenders minimum eligible parole date.(g) The Board of Parole Hearings may consider the offenders introspective trauma informed therapy in granting parole.
SECTION 1. Section 3055 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
3055. (a) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide meaningful opportunity for successful release for adult and juvenile offenders by offering access to individual introspective trauma informed therapy by clinical social workers, psychologists, or accredited violence peer counselors for those offenders in need of this therapy.(2) The introspective trauma informed therapy is therapy that is peer reviewed and represents best practices for that therapy.(b) A clinical diagnosis is not required for access to the mental health services described in this section.(c) For purposes of this section, meaningful opportunity means all of the following are available, if needed, to the offender:(1) Access to rehabilitative programming in a timely manner after entry and before parole hearings.(2) Access to trauma informed therapy that seeks to heal and rehabilitate the root causes of the traumatic experience that lead to substance abuse or violent actions.(3) Access to therapy methods that can be practiced by the offender in an individual or community setting as a form of continuing care for traumatic experiences.(d) For purposes of this section, trauma informed therapy means therapy that includes all of the following:(1) Therapy that revolves around intervening regarding neglected or unknown symptoms of the individuals trauma.(2) Therapy that increases understanding of how and why trauma affects the individual.(3) Mental health care that provides tools for coping and dealing with trauma.(e) For purposes of this section, trauma means emotional distress caused by a damaging event or repetitive events that exceeds the individuals ability to cope with, or integrate emotions from, the experience causing the emotional distress, and which leads to destructive symptoms and behavior.(f) The therapy described in this section shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than one year prior to the offenders minimum eligible parole date.(g) The Board of Parole Hearings may consider the offenders introspective trauma informed therapy in granting parole.
3055. (a) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide meaningful opportunity for successful release for adult and juvenile offenders by offering access to individual introspective trauma informed therapy by clinical social workers, psychologists, or accredited violence peer counselors for those offenders in need of this therapy.(2) The introspective trauma informed therapy is therapy that is peer reviewed and represents best practices for that therapy.(b) A clinical diagnosis is not required for access to the mental health services described in this section.(c) For purposes of this section, meaningful opportunity means all of the following are available, if needed, to the offender:(1) Access to rehabilitative programming in a timely manner after entry and before parole hearings.(2) Access to trauma informed therapy that seeks to heal and rehabilitate the root causes of the traumatic experience that lead to substance abuse or violent actions.(3) Access to therapy methods that can be practiced by the offender in an individual or community setting as a form of continuing care for traumatic experiences.(d) For purposes of this section, trauma informed therapy means therapy that includes all of the following:(1) Therapy that revolves around intervening regarding neglected or unknown symptoms of the individuals trauma.(2) Therapy that increases understanding of how and why trauma affects the individual.(3) Mental health care that provides tools for coping and dealing with trauma.(e) For purposes of this section, trauma means emotional distress caused by a damaging event or repetitive events that exceeds the individuals ability to cope with, or integrate emotions from, the experience causing the emotional distress, and which leads to destructive symptoms and behavior.(f) The therapy described in this section shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than one year prior to the offenders minimum eligible parole date.(g) The Board of Parole Hearings may consider the offenders introspective trauma informed therapy in granting parole.
3055. (a) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide meaningful opportunity for successful release for adult and juvenile offenders by offering access to individual introspective trauma informed therapy by clinical social workers, psychologists, or accredited violence peer counselors for those offenders in need of this therapy.(2) The introspective trauma informed therapy is therapy that is peer reviewed and represents best practices for that therapy.(b) A clinical diagnosis is not required for access to the mental health services described in this section.(c) For purposes of this section, meaningful opportunity means all of the following are available, if needed, to the offender:(1) Access to rehabilitative programming in a timely manner after entry and before parole hearings.(2) Access to trauma informed therapy that seeks to heal and rehabilitate the root causes of the traumatic experience that lead to substance abuse or violent actions.(3) Access to therapy methods that can be practiced by the offender in an individual or community setting as a form of continuing care for traumatic experiences.(d) For purposes of this section, trauma informed therapy means therapy that includes all of the following:(1) Therapy that revolves around intervening regarding neglected or unknown symptoms of the individuals trauma.(2) Therapy that increases understanding of how and why trauma affects the individual.(3) Mental health care that provides tools for coping and dealing with trauma.(e) For purposes of this section, trauma means emotional distress caused by a damaging event or repetitive events that exceeds the individuals ability to cope with, or integrate emotions from, the experience causing the emotional distress, and which leads to destructive symptoms and behavior.(f) The therapy described in this section shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than one year prior to the offenders minimum eligible parole date.(g) The Board of Parole Hearings may consider the offenders introspective trauma informed therapy in granting parole.
3055. (a) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide meaningful opportunity for successful release for adult and juvenile offenders by offering access to individual introspective trauma informed therapy by clinical social workers, psychologists, or accredited violence peer counselors for those offenders in need of this therapy.
(2) The introspective trauma informed therapy is therapy that is peer reviewed and represents best practices for that therapy.
(b) A clinical diagnosis is not required for access to the mental health services described in this section.
(c) For purposes of this section, meaningful opportunity means all of the following are available, if needed, to the offender:
(1) Access to rehabilitative programming in a timely manner after entry and before parole hearings.
(2) Access to trauma informed therapy that seeks to heal and rehabilitate the root causes of the traumatic experience that lead to substance abuse or violent actions.
(3) Access to therapy methods that can be practiced by the offender in an individual or community setting as a form of continuing care for traumatic experiences.
(d) For purposes of this section, trauma informed therapy means therapy that includes all of the following:
(1) Therapy that revolves around intervening regarding neglected or unknown symptoms of the individuals trauma.
(2) Therapy that increases understanding of how and why trauma affects the individual.
(3) Mental health care that provides tools for coping and dealing with trauma.
(e) For purposes of this section, trauma means emotional distress caused by a damaging event or repetitive events that exceeds the individuals ability to cope with, or integrate emotions from, the experience causing the emotional distress, and which leads to destructive symptoms and behavior.
(f) The therapy described in this section shall be provided as early as practicable, but in no event later than one year prior to the offenders minimum eligible parole date.
(g) The Board of Parole Hearings may consider the offenders introspective trauma informed therapy in granting parole.