The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Tomes’ SB 285 on inmate correspondence. This bill provides that the DOC shall provide, without charge, an inmate with a reasonable method and opportunity for correspondence, and shall permit an inmate to purchase additional opportunities for correspondence, such as email. Sen. Tomes testified that more correspondence with f … [Read more...] about Inmate correspondence
sentencing
Deadly weapons
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 92, Sen. Schneider’s bill to enhance criminal penalties using deadly weapons. As introduced, the bill established sentencing enhancements of 5 to 20 years if a deadly weapon, not just a firearm as provided under current law, is possessed during the commission of all offenses against the person, arson for hire, resisting law … [Read more...] about Deadly weapons
Crimes of violence
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 559, Sen. R. Michael Young’s bill to make a number of changes to crimes of violence. Sen. Young explained that the bill adds unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon to the definition of "crimes of violence." The bill establishes new caps for consecutive sentences that result from a single episode of c … [Read more...] about Crimes of violence
Credit time
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 175, Sen. Young’s bill establishing uniform terminology for sentence credit time. Sen. Young explained that the bill would not change the law but would clarify terminology by enacting the following definitions: "accrued time" would mean “the amount of time that a person is imprisoned or confined”; "educational credit" wou … [Read more...] about Credit time
Inmates and Medicaid
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 212, Sen. Miller’s bill on inmates and Medicaid. The bill authorizes the Department of Correction to act as an inmate’s representative for Medicaid and to authorize a sheriff to act as Medicaid representative for persons detained in the jail pending trial. Testimony was received about the amounts the State and counties will s … [Read more...] about Inmates and Medicaid