Senate Bill 1140 Summary

• Establishes the "Parole Swift and Sure Sanctions Act" creating a system of graduated sanctions for parole violations as an alternative to immediate incarceration or revocation.

• Requires the department to adopt by January 1, 2013 a uniform statewide system of graduated sanctions for supervision violations, including electronic monitoring, drug testing, restitution centers, community service, and short-term confinement.

• Defines graduated sanctions to include both accountability measures and positive reinforcements such as certificates of achievement, reduced reporting requirements, earned compliance credits, and removal of supervision conditions.

• Allows supervising agents to impose graduated sanctions without a hearing for most violations, but requires approval from the chief supervising agent before placing individuals in correctional facilities, with a maximum 4-hour custody period pending approval.

• Prohibits graduated sanctions for violations that could constitute separate felony charges, except for positive drug tests, and requires quarterly review by chief supervising agents to assess disparities and effectiveness of sanctions imposed.