Provides relative to battery of a correctional facility employee. (gov sig)
The implementation of SB87 is likely to result in more stringent consequences for offenders who engage in violent behavior towards correctional staff. By codifying the act of throwing bodily fluids as battery, the bill seeks to deter such conduct and provide legal grounds for prosecution. This may also impact broader policies regarding the treatment of inmates and the safety protocols enforced within correctional facilities, as agencies might implement additional training or resources to safeguard their employees' safety.
Senate Bill 87, sponsored by Senator Perry, addresses the definition and parameters surrounding the crime of battery against correctional facility employees in Louisiana. The bill expands the definition of battery to include the act of throwing potentially harmful bodily fluids, including water, feces, urine, blood, saliva, or any form of human waste by offenders in a correctional setting. This amendment aims to enhance the protection of employees working within correctional facilities by specifically categorizing these actions as criminal offenses.
The sentiment surrounding SB87 is overall favorable, particularly among legislators and correctional facility associations who view the bill as an essential measure for improving workplace safety in the criminal justice system. Supporters argue that by clearly defining these violent actions as criminal offenses, correctional employees will feel more secure in their roles. However, there may be concerns among civil rights advocates regarding how this bill could affect inmate treatment and the potential for exacerbating tensions within facilities if not implemented with a focus on rehabilitation as well.
While the bill had unanimous support during voting, with no nays recorded, there are underlying tensions related to the broader implications of categorizing such acts as battery. Critics may argue that defining battery so explicitly risks simplifying complex interactions that occur within correctional environments. Addressing the potential for abuse of power or excessive punishment arising from these definitions could be an area of contention, particularly in discussions surrounding humane treatment of incarcerated individuals.