The bill amends Section 42-56-20.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-56 entitled "Corrections Department" to establish a community correctional program specifically for women offenders within the Department of Corrections. The amendment allows the Department of Corrections to contract with private agencies to implement this program, with the civil liability of these agencies and their employees being limited in the same manner and amount as state agencies and employees. The program is designed to provide eligible women, either sentenced to imprisonment for two years or less or awaiting trial, with individualized plans that include employment, education, housing, restitution, community service, or other appropriate social services or counseling. These plans require approval from both the director of the Department of Corrections and the sentencing judge, and upon approval, the women may be released from the adult correctional institutions to participate in the program.

The bill also includes deletions from the current law, specifically removing subsection (e) which previously assessed additional penalties for prostitution-related offenses. These penalties ranged from $500 or 10% of any fine for felonies to $350 or 10% of any fine for misdemeanors, with the assessment being deposited as general revenues. The deletion of this subsection indicates that these additional costs will no longer be imposed on women in the community corrections program. The act will take effect upon passage, signifying that the changes to the law will be immediate once the bill is enacted.

Statutes affected:
2225  SUB A: 42-56-20.3
2225: 42-56-20.3, 11-34.1-4