California 2019 2019-2020 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB562 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/13/2019

                    CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 562Introduced by Assembly Member BurkeFebruary 13, 2019 An act to relating to prisons. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 562, as introduced, Burke. Prisons: rehabilitation programs.Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to operate the state prison system. Existing law establishes various rehabilitation programs for inmates in the state prison, including literacy, education, and vocational training programs.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations regarding rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons. The bill would express the intent of the Legislature to require the department to improve performance measures for in-prison rehabilitation programs, and to require that those performance measures include specified information, including the percentage of inmates nearing release from prison with unmet rehabilitation needs.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: NO  Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) According to a December 6, 2017, report by the Legislative Analysts Office entitled, Improving In-Prison Rehabilitation Programs, California state prisons house nearly 130,000 inmates.(b) While incarcerated in prison, inmates often participate in various rehabilitation programs that seek to improve the likelihood that inmates will lead a productive, crime-free life upon release from prison by addressing the underlying factors that led to their criminal activity.(c) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation offers inmates various rehabilitation programs while they are in prison, including education and substance use disorder treatment programs. The primary goal of those programs is to reduce recidivismthe number of inmates who reoffend after they are released from prison.(d) Various studies show that when those programs are well designed and implemented effectively, they can reduce the number of inmates who recidivate and that the resulting savings can more than offset the costs of the programs.(e) The department defines recidivism as being convicted of a subsequent crime within three years of release from prison. Of the 36,000 inmates released in the years 201213, the number of inmates who recidivated was 16,500, or 46 percent.(f) Upon admission to prison, the department assesses an inmates rehabilitative needs and assigns the inmate to relevant rehabilitation programs.(g) As of June 30, 2017, 98 percent of the inmate population received a rehabilitation risk assessment. Of those who received an assessment, roughly one-half had a moderate or high risk of recidivating.(h) In the years 201516, almost one-half of inmates were released without receiving rehabilitation programs for which they had an assessed need.SEC. 2. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation improve performance measures in order to conduct regular oversight of rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons.(b) The Legislature intends to require the departments performance measures to include all of the following information:(1) The percentage of inmates with unmet rehabilitation needs nearing release from prison.(2) Participation rates for state-funded rehabilitation programs.(3) The length of time an inmate participated in a rehabilitation program before being released from prison.(4) The length of time required for an inmate in a rehabilitation program to meet specified benchmarks.(5) The number of inmates on the waiting list for each rehabilitation program, and the amount of time inmates are on the waiting list before gaining entry to the program.

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 562Introduced by Assembly Member BurkeFebruary 13, 2019 An act to relating to prisons. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 562, as introduced, Burke. Prisons: rehabilitation programs.Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to operate the state prison system. Existing law establishes various rehabilitation programs for inmates in the state prison, including literacy, education, and vocational training programs.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations regarding rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons. The bill would express the intent of the Legislature to require the department to improve performance measures for in-prison rehabilitation programs, and to require that those performance measures include specified information, including the percentage of inmates nearing release from prison with unmet rehabilitation needs.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: NO  Local Program: NO 





 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 562

Introduced by Assembly Member BurkeFebruary 13, 2019

Introduced by Assembly Member Burke
February 13, 2019

 An act to relating to prisons. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 562, as introduced, Burke. Prisons: rehabilitation programs.

Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to operate the state prison system. Existing law establishes various rehabilitation programs for inmates in the state prison, including literacy, education, and vocational training programs.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations regarding rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons. The bill would express the intent of the Legislature to require the department to improve performance measures for in-prison rehabilitation programs, and to require that those performance measures include specified information, including the percentage of inmates nearing release from prison with unmet rehabilitation needs.

Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to operate the state prison system. Existing law establishes various rehabilitation programs for inmates in the state prison, including literacy, education, and vocational training programs.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations regarding rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons. The bill would express the intent of the Legislature to require the department to improve performance measures for in-prison rehabilitation programs, and to require that those performance measures include specified information, including the percentage of inmates nearing release from prison with unmet rehabilitation needs.

## Digest Key

## Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) According to a December 6, 2017, report by the Legislative Analysts Office entitled, Improving In-Prison Rehabilitation Programs, California state prisons house nearly 130,000 inmates.(b) While incarcerated in prison, inmates often participate in various rehabilitation programs that seek to improve the likelihood that inmates will lead a productive, crime-free life upon release from prison by addressing the underlying factors that led to their criminal activity.(c) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation offers inmates various rehabilitation programs while they are in prison, including education and substance use disorder treatment programs. The primary goal of those programs is to reduce recidivismthe number of inmates who reoffend after they are released from prison.(d) Various studies show that when those programs are well designed and implemented effectively, they can reduce the number of inmates who recidivate and that the resulting savings can more than offset the costs of the programs.(e) The department defines recidivism as being convicted of a subsequent crime within three years of release from prison. Of the 36,000 inmates released in the years 201213, the number of inmates who recidivated was 16,500, or 46 percent.(f) Upon admission to prison, the department assesses an inmates rehabilitative needs and assigns the inmate to relevant rehabilitation programs.(g) As of June 30, 2017, 98 percent of the inmate population received a rehabilitation risk assessment. Of those who received an assessment, roughly one-half had a moderate or high risk of recidivating.(h) In the years 201516, almost one-half of inmates were released without receiving rehabilitation programs for which they had an assessed need.SEC. 2. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation improve performance measures in order to conduct regular oversight of rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons.(b) The Legislature intends to require the departments performance measures to include all of the following information:(1) The percentage of inmates with unmet rehabilitation needs nearing release from prison.(2) Participation rates for state-funded rehabilitation programs.(3) The length of time an inmate participated in a rehabilitation program before being released from prison.(4) The length of time required for an inmate in a rehabilitation program to meet specified benchmarks.(5) The number of inmates on the waiting list for each rehabilitation program, and the amount of time inmates are on the waiting list before gaining entry to the program.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) According to a December 6, 2017, report by the Legislative Analysts Office entitled, Improving In-Prison Rehabilitation Programs, California state prisons house nearly 130,000 inmates.(b) While incarcerated in prison, inmates often participate in various rehabilitation programs that seek to improve the likelihood that inmates will lead a productive, crime-free life upon release from prison by addressing the underlying factors that led to their criminal activity.(c) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation offers inmates various rehabilitation programs while they are in prison, including education and substance use disorder treatment programs. The primary goal of those programs is to reduce recidivismthe number of inmates who reoffend after they are released from prison.(d) Various studies show that when those programs are well designed and implemented effectively, they can reduce the number of inmates who recidivate and that the resulting savings can more than offset the costs of the programs.(e) The department defines recidivism as being convicted of a subsequent crime within three years of release from prison. Of the 36,000 inmates released in the years 201213, the number of inmates who recidivated was 16,500, or 46 percent.(f) Upon admission to prison, the department assesses an inmates rehabilitative needs and assigns the inmate to relevant rehabilitation programs.(g) As of June 30, 2017, 98 percent of the inmate population received a rehabilitation risk assessment. Of those who received an assessment, roughly one-half had a moderate or high risk of recidivating.(h) In the years 201516, almost one-half of inmates were released without receiving rehabilitation programs for which they had an assessed need.

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) According to a December 6, 2017, report by the Legislative Analysts Office entitled, Improving In-Prison Rehabilitation Programs, California state prisons house nearly 130,000 inmates.(b) While incarcerated in prison, inmates often participate in various rehabilitation programs that seek to improve the likelihood that inmates will lead a productive, crime-free life upon release from prison by addressing the underlying factors that led to their criminal activity.(c) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation offers inmates various rehabilitation programs while they are in prison, including education and substance use disorder treatment programs. The primary goal of those programs is to reduce recidivismthe number of inmates who reoffend after they are released from prison.(d) Various studies show that when those programs are well designed and implemented effectively, they can reduce the number of inmates who recidivate and that the resulting savings can more than offset the costs of the programs.(e) The department defines recidivism as being convicted of a subsequent crime within three years of release from prison. Of the 36,000 inmates released in the years 201213, the number of inmates who recidivated was 16,500, or 46 percent.(f) Upon admission to prison, the department assesses an inmates rehabilitative needs and assigns the inmate to relevant rehabilitation programs.(g) As of June 30, 2017, 98 percent of the inmate population received a rehabilitation risk assessment. Of those who received an assessment, roughly one-half had a moderate or high risk of recidivating.(h) In the years 201516, almost one-half of inmates were released without receiving rehabilitation programs for which they had an assessed need.

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

### SECTION 1.

(a) According to a December 6, 2017, report by the Legislative Analysts Office entitled, Improving In-Prison Rehabilitation Programs, California state prisons house nearly 130,000 inmates.

(b) While incarcerated in prison, inmates often participate in various rehabilitation programs that seek to improve the likelihood that inmates will lead a productive, crime-free life upon release from prison by addressing the underlying factors that led to their criminal activity.

(c) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation offers inmates various rehabilitation programs while they are in prison, including education and substance use disorder treatment programs. The primary goal of those programs is to reduce recidivismthe number of inmates who reoffend after they are released from prison.

(d) Various studies show that when those programs are well designed and implemented effectively, they can reduce the number of inmates who recidivate and that the resulting savings can more than offset the costs of the programs.

(e) The department defines recidivism as being convicted of a subsequent crime within three years of release from prison. Of the 36,000 inmates released in the years 201213, the number of inmates who recidivated was 16,500, or 46 percent.

(f) Upon admission to prison, the department assesses an inmates rehabilitative needs and assigns the inmate to relevant rehabilitation programs.

(g) As of June 30, 2017, 98 percent of the inmate population received a rehabilitation risk assessment. Of those who received an assessment, roughly one-half had a moderate or high risk of recidivating.

(h) In the years 201516, almost one-half of inmates were released without receiving rehabilitation programs for which they had an assessed need.

SEC. 2. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation improve performance measures in order to conduct regular oversight of rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons.(b) The Legislature intends to require the departments performance measures to include all of the following information:(1) The percentage of inmates with unmet rehabilitation needs nearing release from prison.(2) Participation rates for state-funded rehabilitation programs.(3) The length of time an inmate participated in a rehabilitation program before being released from prison.(4) The length of time required for an inmate in a rehabilitation program to meet specified benchmarks.(5) The number of inmates on the waiting list for each rehabilitation program, and the amount of time inmates are on the waiting list before gaining entry to the program.

SEC. 2. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation improve performance measures in order to conduct regular oversight of rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons.(b) The Legislature intends to require the departments performance measures to include all of the following information:(1) The percentage of inmates with unmet rehabilitation needs nearing release from prison.(2) Participation rates for state-funded rehabilitation programs.(3) The length of time an inmate participated in a rehabilitation program before being released from prison.(4) The length of time required for an inmate in a rehabilitation program to meet specified benchmarks.(5) The number of inmates on the waiting list for each rehabilitation program, and the amount of time inmates are on the waiting list before gaining entry to the program.

SEC. 2. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation improve performance measures in order to conduct regular oversight of rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons.

### SEC. 2.

(b) The Legislature intends to require the departments performance measures to include all of the following information:

(1) The percentage of inmates with unmet rehabilitation needs nearing release from prison.

(2) Participation rates for state-funded rehabilitation programs.

(3) The length of time an inmate participated in a rehabilitation program before being released from prison.

(4) The length of time required for an inmate in a rehabilitation program to meet specified benchmarks.

(5) The number of inmates on the waiting list for each rehabilitation program, and the amount of time inmates are on the waiting list before gaining entry to the program.