Louisiana § RS 15:828.4 - Transitional Residential Pilot Program for female offenders; establishment

§ RS 15:828.4. Transitional Residential Pilot Program for female offenders; establishment

            A. Subject to the availability of funds and appropriate resources, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is hereby authorized to create a Transitional Residential Pilot Program for females in prison, which shall facilitate the successful reintegration of female offenders into the community.

            B. The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is hereby authorized to transfer a female offender eligible for the Transitional Residential Pilot Program, insofar as the transfer is in accordance with the custody level, security, supervision, and restrictions on movement established by the department to carry out the function and purpose of such transitional residential program and to provide a safe, structured, and supervised transitional environment.

            C. A female offender shall be eligible for consideration for the program if all of the following conditions are met:

            (1) The offender is willing to participate in the program.

            (2) The offender has no convictions of a sex offense as defined by R.S. 15:541.

            (3) The offender is within two years of her projected release date.

            (4) The offender has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the two years prior to her entering the program. A major disciplinary offense is an offense identified as a Schedule B offense by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Offenders.

            (5) The offender has obtained a low-risk level designation determined by a validated risk assessment instrument approved by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and has received approval from the warden for participation in the program.

            D. The pilot program shall conclude on August 1, 2024, unless the legislature extends this date or establishes a similar program prior to that date.

            E. The provisions of this Section shall be implemented only to the extent that funds are appropriated for this purpose and to the extent that is consistent with available resources.

            F. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section.

            Acts 2021, No. 304, §1.