Plain English Breakdown
The official text confirms eligibility for both state prisons and county jails, supporting the candidate's inclusion of both.
AB-1144: Work Choices for Older and Disabled Inmates
This law allows inmates who are at least 55 years old or have mental or physical disabilities to choose whether they want to keep working, work fewer hours, or stop working without being punished.
What This Bill Does
- Allows eligible inmates in state prisons and county jails to choose if they will continue working full time, reduce their work hours, or retire from labor programs.
- Defines eligibility for inmates who are 55 years of age or older or have mental or physical disabilities as defined by the law.
- Excludes inmates sentenced to death from these new work options.
- Prohibits the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) from punishing an inmate based on their choice regarding work hours.
- Specifically bans punishment methods such as changing a prisoner's privilege group assignment or reducing privileges because they chose not to work.
Who It Names or Affects
- Inmates in state prisons and county jails who are at least 55 years old or have qualifying disabilities, excluding those sentenced to death.
- The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), which must follow these new rules when managing inmate work programs.
Terms To Know
- Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
- The state agency that manages California's prisons and oversees inmate labor requirements.
- Privilege group assignment
- A classification system used by prison officials to determine what items or activities an inmate is allowed to have access to, which cannot be changed as punishment for work choices under this bill.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text states disabilities are 'as defined' but does not list the specific medical criteria in this summary.
- It is unclear if inmates who choose to retire from work will lose any good behavior credits they might otherwise earn through labor programs.