Bill Text: CA AB624 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: County jail: rehabilitation credits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-09-09 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 266, Statutes of 2013. [AB624 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB624-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 624 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 266
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 9, 2013
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 9, 2013
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 15, 2013
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 19, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 19, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 24, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 7, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mitchell
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo and Gordon)
(Coauthors: Senators De León and Lieu)
FEBRUARY 20, 2013
An act to add Section 4019.4 to the Penal Code, relating to county
jails.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 624, Mitchell. County jail: rehabilitation credits.
Under existing law, when a prisoner is confined to county jail, an
industrial farm, or a road camp, for each 4-day period in which he
or she is confined, he or she may have one day deducted from his or
her period of confinement, as specified.
This bill would authorize a sheriff or county director of
corrections, in addition to the credits otherwise earned, to award a
prisoner program credit reductions from his or her term of
confinement for successful completion of specific program performance
objectives for rehabilitative programming, including academic
programs, vocational programs, vocational training, substance abuse
programs, and core programs such as anger management and social life
skills. These program credit reductions may be for one to 6 weeks and
may be forfeited in the same manner as other program credit
reductions.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 4019.4 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
4019.4. (a) (1) In addition to credit awarded pursuant to Section
4019, a sheriff or county director of corrections may also award a
prisoner program credit reductions from his or her term of
confinement as provided in this section. A sheriff or county director
of corrections who elects to participate in this credit reduction
program shall create guidelines that provide for credit reductions
for inmates who successfully complete specific program performance
objectives for approved rehabilitative programming, including, but
not limited to, credit reduction of not less than one week to credit
reduction of not more than six weeks for each performance milestone.
(2) Guidelines adopted by a sheriff or county director of
corrections pursuant to this subdivision shall specify the credit
reductions applicable to distinct objectives in a schedule of
graduated program performance objectives concluding with the
successful completion of an in-custody rehabilitation program. Upon
adopting the guidelines, the sheriff or county director of
corrections shall thereafter calculate and award credit reductions
authorized by this section. A prisoner may not have his or her term
of imprisonment reduced by more than six weeks for credits awarded
pursuant to this section during any 12-month period of continuous
confinement.
(b) Program credit is a privilege, not a right. Prisoners shall
have a reasonable opportunity to participate in program credit
qualifying assignments in a manner consistent with institutional
security, available resources, and guidelines set forth by the
sheriff or county director of corrections.
(c) As used in this section, "approved rehabilitation programming"
shall include, but is not limited to, academic programs, vocational
programs, vocational training, substance abuse programs, and core
programs such as anger management and social life skills.
(d) Credits awarded pursuant to this section may be forfeited
pursuant to the provisions of Section 4019. Inmates shall not be
eligible for program credits that result in an inmate being overdue
for release.
(e) This section shall only apply to inmates sentenced to county
jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
