SB345 Summary

• Commissioner of the Department of Corrections must review the inmate population by June 1, 2020 to identify those at high risk for severe COVID-19 complications, including pregnant inmates, those with chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems, those 50 years or older, and those with 12 months or less remaining on their sentence.

• Inmates identified as high-risk must be released to community supervision or home detention by June 30, 2020, unless clear and convincing evidence shows they pose a specific and substantial risk of causing bodily injury or using violent force.

• Commissioner must implement low-in-person-contact community supervision and social distancing monitoring methods for released inmates.

• Commissioner must report to the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee by July 1, 2020 with the number of inmates identified as high-risk and number released, broken down by demographic information.

• The act becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.