Existing law requires that an inmate in a state prison who has maintained an inmate trust account with $25 or less for 30 consecutive days be deemed indigent and requires that an inmate who is indigent receive, among other things, basic supplies necessary for maintaining personal hygiene.
Existing law allows the sheriff of each county to operate a store in connection with the county jail, and authorizes the chief probation officer of each county to operate a store in connection with the juvenile hall or other county juvenile facilities, to sell confectionary, postage and writing materials, and toilet articles and supplies to inmates, wards, and juvenile detainees. Existing law also provides that all youth confined in juvenile facilities have specified rights, including, among others, the right to receive adequate personal hygiene items.
This bill would require that indigent incarcerated persons and indigent wards or detainees be provided basic hygiene products free of charge and require that those individuals have guaranteed access to hygiene products, upon their request. The bill would prohibit an indigent incarcerated person or an indigent ward or detainee from being denied access to hygiene products as a disciplinary measure. The bill would prohibit debt from being accrued as a result of the provision of hygiene products to indigent inmates and indigent wards or detainees and would require any debt accrued for the provision of hygiene products prior to January 1, 2026, to be discharged. By expanding the duties of local sheriffs and probation officers, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.