Amended in Senate May 7, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 624


Introduced by Assembly Member Mitchell

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo and Gordon)

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(Coauthors: Senators De León and Lieu)

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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 amended, 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
4Section 4019, a sheriff may also award a prisoner program credit
5reductions from his or her term of confinement as provided in this
6section. A sheriff who elects to participate in this credit reduction
7program shall create guidelines that provide for credit reductions
8for inmates who successfully complete specific program
9performance objectives for approved rehabilitative programming,
10including, but not limited to, credit reduction of not less than one
11week to credit reduction of not more than six weeks for each
12performance milestone.

13(2) begin deleteRegulations promulgated end deletebegin insertGuidelines adopted by a sheriffend insertbegin insert end insert
14pursuant to this subdivision shall specify the credit reductions
15applicable to distinct objectives in a schedule of graduated program
16performance objectives concluding with the successful completion
17of an in-custody rehabilitation program.begin delete Commencing upon the
18approval of thoseend delete
begin insert Upon adopting theend insert guidelines, the sheriff shall
19thereafter calculate and award credit reductions authorized by this
20section. A prisoner may not have his or her term of imprisonment
21reduced by more than six weeks for credits awarded pursuant to
22this section during any 12-month period of continuous confinement.

23(b) Program credit is a privilege, not a right. Prisoners shall
24have a reasonable opportunity to participate in program credit
25qualifying assignments in a manner consistent with institutional
26security, available resources, and guidelines set forth by the sheriff.

27(c) As used in this section, “approved rehabilitation
28programming” shall include, but is not limited to, academic
29programs, vocational programs, vocational training, substance
30abuse programs, and core programs such as anger management
31and social life skills.

32(d) Credits awarded pursuant to this section may be forfeited
33pursuant to the provisions of Section 4019. Inmates shall not be
34eligible for program credits that result in an inmate being overdue
35for release.

P3    1(e) This section shall only apply to inmates sentenced to county
2jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.



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