The bill establishes a Panel on Justice-Involved Women, which is responsible for reviewing the impact of criminal laws on women and promoting gender-responsive and trauma-informed approaches throughout their pre-trial, incarceration, and rehabilitation processes. The Panel's membership has been expanded to include new roles such as the Commissioner of the Department of Correction and the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, enhancing its representation and expertise. This year, the Panel has focused on family connectedness for women in custodial settings, conducting facility visits and focus groups to gather insights. The findings emphasize the importance of maintaining family connections, with existing policies facilitating visits being generally well understood, though opportunities for improvement remain.

The bill aims to enhance family engagement opportunities for incarcerated women by promoting virtual visits and programs that foster meaningful interactions between parents and their children. It recommends expanding video visitation options, introducing tablet-based phone calls, and reviewing participation rates in family activities to identify barriers to engagement. Additionally, the bill suggests changes to dress codes to accommodate children visiting their incarcerated parents and improving waiting areas to create a more welcoming environment. Overall, the bill seeks to strengthen family connections for justice-involved women, recognizing their unique needs and the significance of maintaining familial ties during incarceration.