2023 -- H 6163

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LC002602

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE TO IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM

OUTCOMES AND REDUCE RECIDIVISM OF FEMALES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL

JUSTICE POPULATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Solomon, Edwards, Kazarian, Casimiro, Spears, Casey,
Potter, Cruz, Felix, and Kislak

     Date Introduced: March 17, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     WHEREAS, Incarcerated women are often young, single mothers from ethnic minority

backgrounds who have little education, poor work histories, and are disproportionately low-

income. Mental illness, and high rates of PTSD and substance-use disorders, are common

problems among female detainees who have often also been victims of abuse themselves; and

     WHEREAS, The most difficult part of an incarcerated female's experience is often re-

entry, when women must comply with conditions of probation or parole, achieve financial

stability, access health care, locate housing, and attempt to reunite with their families; and

     WHEREAS, Employment is only one of several major factors that plays a key role in the

successful re-entry and rehabilitation of justice-involved individuals. Statistically, 60 percent of

incarcerated women "met the cutoff for PTSD," while 80 percent met the criteria for having a

substance-use disorder, and 60 percent had children; and

     WHEREAS, Problems surrounding separation from children and family, lack of housing,

inadequate mental health care, and insufficient substance abuse treatment during and after their

imprisonment often contribute to increased recidivism; and

     WHEREAS, Currently, existing services and supports are not fully leveraged to wholly

assist individuals as they transition from a correctional institution back to the community. This

creates significant gaps in care for Rhode Islanders who are exiting prison or jail and returning

home to families and communities; and

     WHEREAS, By investing in support for mental health and abuse, and by expanding

diversion, parole and re-entry programming and housing, government can better support our

communities and families as a whole by greatly increasing positive outcomes; now, therefore be

it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative task force be and the same is hereby created

consisting of nineteen (19) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

Senate, with not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President

of the Senate; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives,

with not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the

House; one of whom shall be a representative of the Judicial Branch, to be appointed by the Chief

Justice of the Supreme Court; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department

of Corrections (DOC), or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of

Behavioral Healthcare Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH), or designee; one of

whom shall be the Rhode Island Public Defender, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode

Island Attorney General, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chair of the Rhode Island Parole

Board, or designee; one of whom shall be a former warden of the Rhode Island women’s prison,

to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a representative from

OpenDoors, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a representative

from the Formerly Incarcerated Union of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the President of the

Senate; one of whom shall be a representative from the Center for Health and Justice

Transformation, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a municipal

police chief, or designee, appointed by the President of the Senate; and one of whom shall be a

representative from the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, to be appointed by

Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be the Director of the RI Department of Children,

Youth & Families, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission or task force, created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing authority

may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator, provided that the

majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the appointment

consents to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said task force shall be to acquire the data and methodology to formulate

a detailed blueprint for a Request for Proposal (RFP), utilizing information from state

departments and agencies to implement pre-sentencing and post-sentencing strategies for women

transitioning in or out of the criminal justice system including, but not limited to:

     Examine best practices to improving the long-term outcomes and reduce recidivism of

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individuals awaiting sentencing;

     Ascertain intervention and supportive pathways and services;

     Calculate estimated costs for implementation of all programs;

     Provide costs and local participation policies and requirements for potential housing

sources;

     Ascertain sustainable funding avenues and legal pathways to implementing policies and

programs on the State and local level; and

     Differentiate the needs of those entering the criminal justice system and those

transitioning back to the community following a period of incarceration.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the task force shall meet at the

call of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House and organize, and shall select co-

Chairpersons from among the legislative members.

     Vacancies in said task force shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said task force shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said task force and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable

by the task force to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said task force; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the task force shall report its findings to the General Assembly no

later than February 5, 2024, and said task force shall expire on April 5, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE TO IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM

OUTCOMES AND REDUCE RECIDIVISM OF FEMALES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL

JUSTICE POPULATION

***

     This resolution creates a nineteen (19) member task force whose purpose it would be to

improve outcomes and reduce recidivism of females in the criminal justice system, and who

would report back to the General Assembly no later than February 5, 2024, and would expire on

April 5, 2024.

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