2023 -- H 6164

========

LC002601

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE FROM THE RHODE

ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS) IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE

RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (DOC) ON CURRENT AND

POTENTIAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR TRANSITIONING FEMALES IN THE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH PRE- AND POST-RELEASE

     Introduced By: Representatives Solomon, Kazarian, Casimiro, Spears, Carson, and
Caldwell

     Date Introduced: March 17, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     WHEREAS, Incarcerated women are disproportionately low-income, minoritized, and

mothers, as well as having less educational and work experience than the general population.

Mental illness, drug abuse, 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, Findings from a recent panel tasked with finding ways to reduce

incarceration among women in Rhode Island determined that there is an overwhelming need for

significantly more support services and transitional housing for this population; and

     WHEREAS, In order to formulate a structured decision-making tool or process in order

to prepare a Request For Proposal (RFP) to transition females in the criminal justice system

toward more positive outcomes, detailed information on current protocols, housing options,

associated costs, and any potential additional methods, policies and programs is needed; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

respectfully requests the RI Department of Human Services, in consultation with the RI

Department of Corrections to submit a report to the General Assembly on or before January 5,

2024, including, but not limited to:

Available and potential transitional housing with identification and coordination of

potential and existing associated costs and funding sources;

Available assistance for formerly incarcerated individuals in obtaining and

maintaining long-term stable housing and short-term housing through homeless

shelters and federal housing;

Private, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, and public agencies who

offer housing services that serve the needs of female incarcerated individuals;

Current access to social and support services as well as assistance with enrollment in

state and federal benefits and potential additional services and programs with

associated costs and funding methods;

Identification and coordination of all potential and existing funding;

Current access to high-quality integrated behavioral healthcare that is focused on

prevention, intervention, and treatment and any additional services needed to facilitate

positive outcomes for current and formerly incarcerated individuals with current and

potential costs and funding sources;

Assessment of health care needs for female incarcerated individuals;

Responsibility for post-release supervision details and potential improvement

recommendations including detailed information on current assessment and case

management tools targeting continuous reentry planning, beginning at the point of

admission to the criminal justice system, and working through pre- and post-release;

Process for the continuous and appropriate delivery of drug treatment, medical care,

job training and placement, educational services, cognitive behavioral therapy and/or

other services essential to reentry;

Methods used to determine the efficacy effectiveness of programs and services

provided;

A comprehensive assessment tool that combines validated risk and needs assessments

with suggested supervision strategies for case planning that addresses specific goals

and needed services; and

The utilization or development of new employment opportunities for this population;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the

State of Rhode Island, Kimberly Merolla-Brito, Director of the RI Department of Human

LC002601 - Page 2 of 3

Services, and Wayne T. Salisbury, Jr., Acting Director of the Rhode Island Department of

Corrections.

========

LC002601

========

LC002601 - Page 3 of 3