SB 620 — Long-term Inmates

Florida Senate - 2021 CS for SB 620 By Senatorthe BracyCommittee 11-00855-21on 2021620__Criminal AJustice; bill to be entitled An act relating to parole eligibility;

and Senator Bracy 591-02357-21 2021620c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to long-term inmates;

requiringcreating thes. Commission on Offender Review to partner with the Department of Corrections to adopt a specified program with certain requirements;

requiring947.136, rulemaking;F.S.;

requiring the Commission on Offender Review and the Department of Corrections to jointly develop a voluntary long-term inmate program;

requiring the program to provide evidence-based programming to certain inmates;

establishing eligibility for referral for participation in the program;

providing program requirements;

providing that inmates may be removed from the program under certain circumstances;

requiring a certificate of completion upon successful completion of the program;

providing that successful completion of the program does not guarantee parole;

requiring the commission and the department to adopt rules;

1019 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

1221 Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 947.002, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to thatsection section,947.002, Florida Statutes, to read:

947.002 Intent.— (5) It(6) The iscommission theshall intentconsider ofan theinmate’s Legislatureinstitutional thatachievements, thelack decisionof todisciplinary parolereport, anand inmateall fromindications the incarceration portion of the inmate’slack sentenceof isrisk anto actthe ofpublic discretionin basedthe ondecision reliableto evidence,parole gracean ofinmate from the stateincarceration andportion paroleof ishis shallor nother besentence. considered a right.

(6) TheSection commission’s2. Section primary947.136, focusFlorida shouldStatutes, beis anticipatingcreated anto inmateread: will become parole eligible.

The947.136 Long-Term commissionInmate shouldProgram.— focus(1) The oncommission anand inmate’sthe institutionaldepartment achievements,shall lackjointly ofdevelop disciplinarya reports,long-term andinmate allprogram, indicationshoused ofwithin the lackdepartment, offor riskinmates towho theare publiceligible infor parole releaseunder ofthis chapter to prepare such inmates for reintegration into the inmate.community.

The(2) The commissionlong-term shallinmate partnerprogram withis the department to create a lifer’svoluntary program forthat allprovides maleevidence-based andprogramming femaleto inmates eligiblewho forare parolewithin and3 adoptyears rulesof ensuringtheir thatpresumptive theparole lifer’srelease programdate isas madeestablished equallyby availablethe tocommission allunder inmates,s. both male and female.

The947.172. commission shall expedite those inmates who appear to have sufficient rehabilitation achievements previously attained through completion of the lifer’s program.

Section(3) Inmates 2. Thismust actbe shallreferred takeby effectthe Julycommission 1,for 2021.participation in the long-term inmate prior to the department placing the inmate into the program.

An inmate who meets all of the following criteria may be referred by the commission for placement into the long-term inmate program:

(a) Does not have factors, as identified in rule, which would preclude placement at an institution operating a long-term inmate program.

(b) Must be serving a parole-eligible sentence.

Inmates who have subsequently received a parole-ineligible sentence may be considered for participation on a case-by-case basis.

(4) To successfully complete the long-term inmate program, inmates participating must, at a minimum:

(a) Complete at least 250 hours of community service projects, as approved by the department;

(b) Participate in at least 100 hours of enrichment programs, as defined by rule;

and (c) Complete an evidence-based curriculum as provided in rule which, at a minimum, addresses:

1. Anger management;

2. Criminal thinking;

3. Educational and vocational needs;

4. Family relationships;

5. Lifestyle and wellness;

6. Substance use disorder treatment;

and 7. Victim impact.

(5) Inmates participating in the long-term inmate program are expected to perform their duties and assignments as instructed by their assignment supervisor.

Inmates who fail to complete duties and assignments as instructed may be removed from the program.

(6) Upon successful completion of the program, an inmate shall be awarded a certificate of completion.

Successful completion of the program does not guarantee that an inmate will be paroled and program participation may not extend the length of the inmate’s sentence.

(7) The commission and the department shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the long-term inmate program.