Bill Text: CA AB2550 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Prisons: female inmates and male correctional officers.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2)

Status: (Passed) 2018-08-20 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 174, Statutes of 2018. [AB2550 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB2550-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 22, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2550

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Introduced by Assembly Member Weber
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bigelow, Bonta, Lackey, Quirk, and Reyes)

February 15, 2018

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An act to add Section 3327 2644 to the Penal Code, relating to prisons.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2550, as amended, Weber. California Institution for Women: male correctional officers.

Existing law establishes within the state an institution for the punishment, treatment, supervision, custody, and care of females convicted of felonies known as the California Institution for Women.

This bill would prohibit male correctional officers in the California Institution for Women from conducting a pat down search of a female inmate unless the prisoner presents a risk of immediate harm to herself or others and there is not a female correctional officer available to conduct the search. The bill would also prohibit a male correctional officer from entering an area of the institution where female inmates may be in a state of undress undress, or from being in an area where they can view female inmates in a state of undress, unless an inmate in the area presents a risk of immediate harm to herself or others or if there is a medical emergency in the area and there is not a female correctional officer who can resolve the situation in a safe and timely manner without his assistance. The bill would require documentation of a male correctional officer conducting a pat down search or entering a prohibited area within 3 days of the incident and would require that the documentation to be reviewed by the warden and retained.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 3327 2644 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

3327.2644.

 (a) A male correctional officer shall not conduct a pat down search of a female inmate unless the prisoner presents a risk of immediate harm to herself or others and there is not a female correctional officer available to conduct the search.

(b) A male correctional officer shall not enter into an area of the institution where female inmates may be in a state of undress, or be in an area where they can view female inmates in a state of undress, including, but not limited to, restrooms, shower areas, or medical treatment areas, unless an inmate in the area presents a risk of immediate harm to herself or others or if there is a medical emergency in the area. A male correctional officer shall not enter into an area prohibited under this subdivision if there is a female correctional officer who can resolve the situation in a safe and timely manner without his assistance. To prevent incidental viewing, staff of the opposite sex shall announce their presence when entering a housing unit.

(c) If a male correctional officer conducts a pat down search under an exception provided in subdivision (a) or enters a prohibited area under an exception provided in subdivision (b), the circumstances for and details of the exception shall be documented within three days of the incident. The documentation shall be reviewed by the warden and retained by the institution for reporting purposes.

(d) The department shall may promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section.