SB 1384 - Inmate Reentry Program Summary

• Requires the Department of Corrections to develop and administer a reentry program for nonviolent offenders with primary felony convictions of third degree, including substance abuse treatment, adult education, vocational training, and rehabilitative programming.

• Establishes eligibility criteria for participation: offender must be nonviolent (with exclusions for forcible felonies, sex offenses, child abuse, domestic violence, firearm offenses, and capital/first/second degree felonies), must have served at least one-half of original sentence, and must have identified substance abuse treatment needs.

• Requires Department of Corrections to request sentencing court approval before placement, with state attorney notification and 15-day objection period; court must respond within 30 days and may consider specified factors including criminal history, disciplinary record, and likelihood of rehabilitation.

• Mandates minimum 6-month program participation with full substance abuse and educational assessments; allows court to modify sentence and place successful completers on drug offender probation for at least the remaining prison time, subject to possible revocation if probation is violated.

• Requires annual reporting to Governor and Legislature on program implementation, participant numbers, costs, sentence modifications, and recidivism tracking of successful completers; effective date October 1, 2015.