| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to faith-based prison programs; amending |
| 3 | s. 944.803, F.S.; deleting a requirement that a specified |
| 4 | percentage of inmates in such programs be within 36 months |
| 5 | of release; providing an effective date. |
| 6 |
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| 7 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 8 |
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| 9 | Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 944.803, Florida |
| 10 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 11 | 944.803 Faith-based programs for inmates.- |
| 12 | (3) The department must have at least six new programs |
| 13 | fully operational. These six programs shall be similar to and in |
| 14 | addition to the current faith-based pilot program. The six new |
| 15 | programs shall be a joint effort with the department and faith- |
| 16 | based service groups within the community. The department shall |
| 17 | ensure that an inmate's faith orientation, or lack thereof, will |
| 18 | not be considered in determining admission to a faith-based |
| 19 | program and that the program does not attempt to convert an |
| 20 | inmate toward a particular faith or religious preference. The |
| 21 | programs shall operate 24 hours a day within the existing |
| 22 | correctional facilities. The programs must emphasize the |
| 23 | importance of personal responsibility, meaningful work, |
| 24 | education, substance abuse treatment, and peer support. |
| 25 | Participation in the faith-based dormitory program shall be |
| 26 | voluntary. However, at least 80 percent of the inmates |
| 27 | participating in this program must be within 36 months of |
| 28 | release. Assignment to these programs shall be based on |
| 29 | evaluation and the length of time the inmate is projected to be |
| 30 | assigned to that particular institution. In evaluating an inmate |
| 31 | for this program, priority shall be given to inmates who have |
| 32 | shown an indication for substance abuse. A right to substance |
| 33 | abuse program services is not stated, intended, or otherwise |
| 34 | implied by this subsection. The department may not remove an |
| 35 | inmate once assigned to the program except for the purposes of |
| 36 | population management, for inmate conduct that may subject the |
| 37 | inmate to disciplinary confinement or loss of gain-time, for |
| 38 | physical or mental health concerns, or for security or safety |
| 39 | concerns. To support the programming component, the department |
| 40 | shall assign a chaplain and a full-time clerical support person |
| 41 | dedicated to each dormitory to implement and monitor the program |
| 42 | and to strengthen volunteer participation and support. |
| 43 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |