Florida Senate - 2022                                    SB 1168
       
       
        
       By Senator Bracy
       
       
       
       
       
       11-01552-22                                           20221168__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to long-term inmates; amending s.
    3         947.002, F.S.; revising legislative intent concerning
    4         the granting of parole; creating s. 947.136, F.S.;
    5         requiring the Commission on Offender Review and the
    6         Department of Corrections to jointly develop a
    7         voluntary long-term inmate program; requiring the
    8         program to provide evidence-based programming to
    9         specified inmates; establishing eligibility for
   10         referral for participation in the program; providing
   11         program requirements; providing that inmates may be
   12         removed from the program under certain circumstances;
   13         requiring that participating inmates receive a
   14         certificate of completion upon successful completion
   15         of the program; providing that successful completion
   16         of the program does not guarantee parole; requiring
   17         the commission and the department to adopt rules;
   18         providing an effective date.
   19          
   20  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   21  
   22         Section 1. Subsection (6) is added to section 947.002,
   23  Florida Statutes, to read:
   24         947.002 Intent.—
   25         (6) The commission shall consider an inmate’s institutional
   26  achievements, lack of disciplinary report, and all indications
   27  of the lack of risk to the public in the decision to parole an
   28  inmate from the incarceration portion of his or her sentence.
   29         Section 2. Section 947.136, Florida Statutes, is created to
   30  read:
   31         947.136 Long-term inmate program.—
   32         (1) The commission and the department shall jointly develop
   33  a long-term inmate program, housed within the department, to
   34  prepare inmates eligible for parole under this chapter for
   35  reintegration into the community.
   36         (2) The long-term inmate program is a voluntary program
   37  that provides evidence-based programming to inmates who are
   38  within 3 years of their presumptive parole release date as
   39  established by the commission under s. 947.172.
   40         (3) Inmates must be referred by the commission for
   41  participation in the long-term inmate program before the
   42  department places the inmate in the program. An inmate who meets
   43  all of the following criteria may be referred by the commission
   44  for placement in the program:
   45         (a) Does not have factors, as identified in rule, that
   46  would preclude placement at an institution operating a long-term
   47  inmate program.
   48         (b) Is serving a parole-eligible sentence. Inmates who
   49  subsequently receive a parole-ineligible sentence may be
   50  considered for participation on a case-by-case basis.
   51         (4) To successfully complete the long-term inmate program,
   52  participating inmates must, at a minimum:
   53         (a) Complete at least 250 hours of community service
   54  projects, as approved by the department;
   55         (b) Participate in at least 100 hours of enrichment
   56  programs, as defined by rule; and
   57         (c) Complete an evidence-based curriculum as provided in
   58  rule which, at a minimum, addresses:
   59         1. Anger management;
   60         2. Critical thinking;
   61         3. Educational and vocational needs;
   62         4. Family relationships;
   63         5. Lifestyle and wellness;
   64         6. Substance use disorder treatment; and
   65         7. Victim impact.
   66         (5) Inmates participating in the long-term inmate program
   67  are expected to perform their duties and assignments as
   68  instructed by their assignment supervisor. Inmates who fail to
   69  complete duties and assignments as instructed may be removed
   70  from the program.
   71         (6) Upon successful completion of the long-term inmate
   72  program, an inmate shall be awarded a certificate of completion.
   73  Successful completion of the program does not guarantee that an
   74  inmate will be paroled, and program participation may not extend
   75  the length of the inmate’s sentence.
   76         (7) The commission and the department shall adopt rules to
   77  implement the long-term inmate program.
   78         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.