California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 624


Introduced by Assembly Member Mitchell

February 20, 2013


An act to add Section 4019.1 to the Penal Code, relating to county jails.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 624, as introduced, 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, 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.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

Section 4019.1 is added to the Penal Code, to
2read:

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4019.1.  

(a) (1) In addition to credit awarded pursuant to
2Section 4019, a sheriff may also award a prisoner program credit
3reductions from his or her term of confinement as provided in this
4section. A sheriff who elects to participate in this credit reduction
5program shall create guidelines that provide for credit reductions
6for inmates who successfully complete specific program
7performance objectives for approved rehabilitative programming,
8including, but not limited to, credit reduction of not less than one
9week to credit reduction of not more than six weeks for each
10performance milestone.

11(2) Regulations promulgated pursuant to this subdivision shall
12specify the credit reductions applicable to distinct objectives in a
13schedule of graduated program performance objectives concluding
14with the successful completion of an in-custody rehabilitation
15program. Commencing upon the approval of those guidelines, the
16sheriff shall thereafter calculate and award credit reductions
17authorized by this section. A prisoner may not have his or her term
18of imprisonment reduced by more than six weeks for credits
19awarded pursuant to this section during any 12-month period of
20continuous confinement.

21(b) Program credit is a privilege, not a right. Prisoners shall
22have a reasonable opportunity to participate in program credit
23qualifying assignments in a manner consistent with institutional
24security, available resources, and guidelines set forth by the sheriff.

25(c) As used in this section, “approved rehabilitation
26programming” shall include, but is not limited to, academic
27programs, vocational programs, vocational training, substance
28abuse programs, and core programs such as anger management
29and social life skills.

30(d) Credits awarded pursuant to this section may be forfeited
31pursuant to the provisions of Section 4019. Inmates shall not be
32eligible for program credits that result in an inmate being overdue
33for release.

34(e) This section shall only apply to inmates sentenced to county
35jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.



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