Bill Text: CA AB990 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Assembly Bill 990 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Prisons: inmate visitation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2022-02-07 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB990 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB990-Enrolled.html

Enrolled September 10, 2021

Passed IN Senate September 02, 2021

Passed IN Assembly September 08, 2021

Amended IN Senate August 26, 2021

Amended IN Assembly May 24, 2021

Amended IN Assembly April 22, 2021

Amended IN Assembly April 15, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 990

Introduced by Assembly Member Santiago
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Kalra, Lee, Quirk, and Stone)
(Coauthors: Senators Kamlager and Skinner)

February 18, 2021

An act to amend Sections 2600, 2601, and 6400 of, and to add Section 6401 to, the Penal Code, relating to prisoners.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 990, Santiago. Prisons: inmate visitation.

(1) Under existing law, a person sentenced to imprisonment in a state prison or in a county jail for a felony offense, as specified, may during that period of confinement be deprived of only those rights as is reasonably related to legitimate penological interests. Existing law enumerates certain civil rights of these prisoners, including the right to purchase, receive, and read newspapers, periodicals, and books accepted for distribution by the United States Post Office.

This bill would include the right to personal visits as a civil right, as specified. The bill would provide that these civil rights may not be infringed upon, except as necessary and only if narrowly tailored to further the legitimate security interests of the government, and would provide that any governmental action related to these civil rights may be reviewed in court for legal error under a substantial evidence standard of review.

(2) Existing law authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to prescribe and amend rules and regulations for the administration of prisons, and requires regulations, which are adopted by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, that may impact the visitation of inmates to recognize and consider the value of inmate visitation as a means of increasing safety in prisons, maintaining family and community connections, and preparing inmates for successful release and rehabilitation. Existing regulations establish the framework for establishing a visiting process in prisons that is conducted in as accommodating a manner as possible, subject to the need to maintain order, the safety of persons, the security of institutions and facilities, and required prison activities and operations. Existing law requires the department to contract with a private nonprofit agency or agencies to establish and operate a visitor center outside of each state adult prison in California that has a population of more than 300 inmates, and prescribes the minimum level of services to be available to prison visitors, including emergency clothing and information on visiting regulations and processes. Existing law requires the department to cooperate with the Department of Transportation in the development of public transportation services to prisons, requires these departments to evaluate the addition of stations or stops on existing bus or rail routes, or the addition of new services, that improve transportation access for visitors to prisons, and requires the department to publicize the availability of transportation services provided by the Department of Transportation.

This bill would additionally require those regulations pertaining to inmate visits to recognize and consider the right to personal visits as a civil right. The bill would prohibit the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from denying in-person contact visits, as specified, including as a disciplinary sanction against the incarcerated person. The bill would require the department to inform an applicant of the specific reason for any denial of a visit.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) The United States Supreme Court has recognized a constitutional right to maintain parent-child relationships absent a compelling government interest, such as protecting a child from an “unfit” parent (Santosky v. Kramer (1982) 455 U.S. 745, 753). The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has recognized that this constitutional right logically encompasses a right to maintain a relationship with a life partner. (United States v. Wolf Child (2012) 699 F.3d 1082, 1091).

(2) In 2009, the Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 20 (Resolution Chapter 88 of the Statutes of 2009), which encouraged the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to use the bill of rights created by the San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership as a framework for analysis and determination of procedures when making decisions about services for the children of incarcerated parents.

(3) The bill of rights created by the San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership includes all of the following:

(A) The child has the right to speak with, see, and touch their parent. Actions to realize this right include, but are not limited to, providing access to visiting rooms that are child-centered, nonintimidating, and conducive to bonding, considering proximity to family when siting prisons and assigning incarcerated persons, and encouraging child welfare departments to facilitate contact.

(B) The child has the right to support as that child faces a parent’s incarceration. Actions to realize this right include, but are not limited to, training adults who work with young people to recognize the needs and concerns of children whose parents are incarcerated, providing access to specially trained therapists, counselors, and mentors, and allocating 5 percent of the corrections-related budget to support the families of incarcerated persons.

(C) The child has a right to a lifelong relationship with their parent. Actions to realize this right include, but are not limited to, reexamining the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, designating a family services coordinator at prisons and jails, supporting incarcerated parents on reentry, and focusing on rehabilitation and alternatives to incarceration.

(4) The principles announced in the bill of rights created by the San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership additionally apply to close family members and loved ones of incarcerated people, including individuals who are not traditionally defined as family members.

(5) The United Nations has established minimum standards for the treatment of incarcerated people that require regular communication with family and friends by visits, telephone, electronic or digital communications, and mail. Moreover, “disciplinary sanctions or restrictive measures shall not include the prohibition of family contact.”

(6) The American Bar Association has established minimum standards for incarcerated people that require sufficient visiting space, convenient visiting times, family-friendly environments, and no unreasonable exclusions of visitors based on criminal convictions.

(7) Research confirms that incarceration imposes heavy burdens on the families of incarcerated people, including trauma for the children of incarcerated parents, as recognized on the adverse childhood experience index, in addition to the high costs of maintaining contact by telephone and visits. Consistent visits also have the potential for reducing the likelihood of intergenerational criminality.

(8) Isolation from lack of visits and limited phone communications adversely affect the mental health of incarcerated people, and that isolation contributes to mental suffering and conflict within prisons. Research shows that visits and family programming reduce disciplinary infractions, increase the chances of successful parole, and decrease recidivism rates upon release and reentry into the community. Forty to 80 percent of incarcerated people rely on their families immediately after release to overcome reentry obstacles, including unemployment, debt, and homelessness.

(9) The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these burdens for families and adverse effects of isolation for incarcerated persons. Since March 2020, in-person visits have been canceled, and this policy exists as of January 2021. Only limited free phone calls have been provided. Since December 2020, limited video calling has become available.

(b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to strengthen visiting rights to support the emotional health of Californians and their incarcerated loved ones, to improve in-custody conduct, and to reduce recidivism.

SEC. 2.

Section 2600 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

2600.

(a) A person sentenced to imprisonment in a state prison or to imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 may during that period of confinement be deprived of rights if the deprivation of those rights is necessary and narrowly tailored to further the legitimate security interests of the government.

(b) This section does not overturn the decision in Thor v. Superior Court, 5 Cal. 4th 725.

SEC. 3.

Section 2601 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

2601.

Each person described in Section 2600 shall have all of the following civil rights set forth under subdivisions (a) to (i), inclusive. These rights may not be infringed upon, except as necessary and only if narrowly tailored to further the legitimate security interests of the government. Any governmental action related to these rights may be reviewed in court for legal error and under a substantial evidence standard of review.

(a) Except as provided in Section 2225 of the Civil Code, to inherit, own, sell, or convey real or personal property, including all written and artistic material produced or created by the person during the period of imprisonment. However, to the extent authorized in Section 2600, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may restrict or prohibit sales or conveyances that are made for business purposes.

(b) To correspond, confidentially, with any member of the State Bar of California or holder of public office, provided that the prison authorities may open and inspect incoming mail to search for contraband.

(c) (1) To purchase, receive, and read any and all newspapers, periodicals, and books accepted for distribution by the United States Post Office. Pursuant to this section, prison authorities may exclude any of the following matter:

(A) Obscene publications or writings, and mail containing information concerning where, how, or from whom this matter may be obtained.

(B) Any matter of a character tending to incite murder, arson, riot, violent racism, or any other form of violence.

(2) This section does not limit the right of prison authorities to do either of the following:

(A) Open and inspect any and all packages received by an inmate.

(B) Establish reasonable restrictions on the number of newspapers, magazines, and books that the inmate may have in their cell or elsewhere in the prison at one time.

(d) To initiate civil actions, subject to a three dollar ($3) filing fee to be collected by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in addition to any other filing fee authorized by law, and subject to Title 3a (commencing with Section 391) of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(e) To marry.

(f) To create a power of appointment.

(g) To make a will.

(h) To receive all benefits provided for in Sections 3370 and 3371 of the Labor Code and in Section 5069.

(i) To receive personal visits. This section shall not require in-person visits for people incarcerated pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 in counties that are not required to provide those visits pursuant to Section 15820.948 of the Government Code or Section 4032 of the Penal Code.

SEC. 4.

Section 6400 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

6400.

Amendments to existing regulations and any future regulations adopted by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that may impact the visitation of inmates shall do all of the following:

(a) Recognize and consider the right to personal visits as a civil right pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 2601.

(b) Recognize and consider the value of visiting as a means to improve the safety of prisons for both staff and inmates.

(c) Recognize and consider the important role of inmate visitation in establishing and maintaining a meaningful connection with family and community.

(d) Recognize and consider the important role of inmate visitation in preparing an inmate for successful release and rehabilitation.

SEC. 5.

Section 6401 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

6401.

(a) An in-person contact visit, including a family visit, shall not be denied by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for any of the following reasons:

(1) As a disciplinary sanction against the incarcerated person that is not based on any violation of a law or regulation by the incarcerated person that occurred during the incarcerated person’s visit with the affected visitor.

(2) Due to an omission or inaccuracy on the visitor application if the omitted or correct information is provided on the visitor’s criminal history report, that the department consults to assess applications.

(3) Because of a visitor’s criminal, juvenile delinquency, or other history of involvement with law enforcement, whether or not it resulted in a criminal conviction, other than a conviction for an offense listed in subdivision (b), a visitor’s current status of being under parole, postrelease community supervision, probation, or informal probation supervision, or a visitor’s previous incarceration, including incarceration in the facility where the visit will take place.

(4) Due to the nature of the incarcerated person’s criminal, juvenile delinquency, or other history of involvement with law enforcement, regardless of whether it resulted in a criminal conviction, other than a conviction for an offense set forth under subdivision (b), except when required by Section 1202.05.

(b) A visitor or incarcerated person may be denied visits for up to one year after the commission of one of the following offenses:

(1) Bringing contraband into the facility during a visit. For purposes of this subparagraph, contraband excludes any lawful amount of alcohol or other intoxicants for personal use in a vehicle parked on facility grounds.

(2) (A) Engaging in sexual intercourse, penetration, masturbation, or oral copulation during a visit with a person other than a family visit or engaging in any sexual conduct with a child during a visit.

(B) For purposes of this subparagraph, “masturbation” means skin-to-skin contact with genitalia.

(3) Committing violence during a visit or the visiting screening process.

(4) Attempting, or aiding in, an escape during a visit.

(d) An incarcerated person shall not be required to withhold consent to a visit as a disciplinary sanction, as a means of avoiding a disciplinary sanction, or as a condition of participating in programming or enjoying any privilege while incarcerated.

(e) To the extent that visiting rules and standards, as prescribed in Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations, conflict with this section, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall adopt regulations that conform with this section.