Bill Text: FL S2260 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Faith- and Character-based Correctional Programs [SPSC]

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-30 - Died in Committee on Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means [S2260 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-S2260-Introduced.html

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Florida Senate - 2010                                    SB 2260 
 
By Senator Crist 
12-01761A-10                                          20102260__ 
1                        A bill to be entitled 
2         An act relating to faith- and character-based 
3         correctional institution programs; amending s. 
4         944.803, F.S.; revising legislative findings; 
5         providing requirements for faith- and character-based 
6         programs; deleting provisions relating to funding; 
7         revising requirements for participation; deleting 
8         provisions relating to assignment of chaplains; 
9         providing an effective date. 
10 
11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
12 
13         Section 1. Section 944.803, Florida Statutes, is amended to 
14  read: 
15         944.803 Faith- and character-based Faith-based programs for 
16  inmates.— 
17         (1) The Legislature finds and declares that faith- and 
18  character-based faith-based programs offered in state and 
19  private correctional institutions and facilities have the 
20  potential to facilitate inmate institutional adjustment, help 
21  inmates assume personal responsibility, and reduce recidivism. 
22         (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department 
23  of Corrections and the private vendors operating private 
24  correctional facilities shall continuously: 
25         (a) Measure recidivism rates for inmates who have 
26  participated in faith- and character-based religious programs.; 
27         (b) Increase the number of volunteers who minister to 
28  inmates from various faith-based and secular institutions in the 
29  community.; 
30         (c) Develop community linkages with secular institutions as 
31  well as churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based 
32  institutions to assist inmates in their release back into the 
33  community.; and 
34         (d) Fund through the use of annual appropriations, in 
35  department facilities, and through inmate welfare trust funds 
36  pursuant to s. 945.215, in private facilities, an adequate 
37  number of chaplains and support staff to operate faith-based 
38  programs in correctional institutions. 
39         (3)(a) The department must have at least six new programs 
40  fully operational. These six programs shall be similar to and in 
41  addition to the current faith-based pilot program. The six new 
42  programs shall be a joint effort with the department and faith 
43  based service groups within the community. The department shall 
44  ensure that an inmate’s faith orientation, or lack thereof, will 
45  not be considered in determining admission to a faith- and 
46  character-based faith-based program and that the program does 
47  not attempt to convert an inmate toward a particular faith or 
48  religious preference. 
49         (b) The programs shall operate 24 hours a day within the 
50  existing correctional facilities and. The programs must 
51  emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, meaningful 
52  work, education, substance abuse treatment, and peer support. 
53         (c) Participation in a the faith-based dormitory program 
54  shall be voluntary. However, at least 80 percent of the inmates 
55  participating in this program must be within 36 months of 
56  release. Assignment to a program these programs shall be based 
57  on evaluation and the length of time the inmate is projected to 
58  be assigned to that particular institution. In evaluating an 
59  inmate for this program, priority shall be given to inmates who 
60  have shown an indication for substance abuse. A right to 
61  substance abuse program services is not stated, intended, or 
62  otherwise implied by this subsection. The department may not 
63  remove an inmate once assigned to a the program except for the 
64  purposes of population management, for inmate conduct that may 
65  subject the inmate to disciplinary confinement or loss of gain 
66  time, for physical or mental health concerns, or for security or 
67  safety concerns. To support the programming component, the 
68  department shall assign a chaplain and a full-time clerical 
69  support person dedicated to each dormitory to implement and 
70  monitor the program and to strengthen volunteer participation 
71  and support. 
72         (4) The Department of Corrections shall assign chaplains to 
73  community correctional centers authorized pursuant to s. 
74  945.091(1)(b). These chaplains shall strengthen volunteer 
75  participation by recruiting volunteers in the community to 
76  assist inmates in transition, and, if requested by the inmate, 
77  placement in a mentoring program or at a contracted substance 
78  abuse transition housing program. When placing an inmate in a 
79  contracted program, the chaplain shall work with the 
80  institutional transition assistance specialist in an effort to 
81  successfully place the released inmate. 
82         (4)(5) The department shall ensure that any faith component 
83  of any program authorized in this chapter is offered on a 
84  voluntary basis and, an offender’s faith orientation, or lack 
85  thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to such 
86  a faith-based program and that the program does not attempt to 
87  convert an offender toward a particular faith or religious 
88  preference. 
89         (5)(6) The department shall ensure that state funds are not 
90  expended for the purpose of furthering religious indoctrination, 
91  but rather, that state funds are expended for purposes of 
92  furthering the secular goals of criminal rehabilitation, the 
93  successful reintegration of offenders into the community, and 
94  the reduction of recidivism. 
95         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.