LEGISLATION ON WOMEN OFFENDERS IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 146616
• Author(s): D Salm; P Shannon
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 35 pages
• Corporate Author: Wisconsin Legislative Council
• Sale Source: Wisconsin Legislative Council; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Report No. 16 to the 1993 Legislature

Annotation

Legislation involving female offenders in Wisconsin is discussed.

Abstract

This report provides an analysis and discussion, including background information, of 1993 Assembly Bills 996 and 997. Assembly Bill 996 proposes changes in State law including mandating the inmate-parent's presence at certain hearings under the Children's Code; creating specific provisions applicable to inmate-parents and their children in the preparation and review of permanency plans under the Children's Code; considering imprisonment as a factor in involuntary termination of parental rights proceeding; requiring the Department of Corrections (DOC) to assess the current family situation of a primary caretaker inmate- parent, including recommendations relating to assisting the parent to maintain contact with the child; and creating various provisions to encourage visitation, telephone calls, and other forms of communication between an inmate-parent and the child. Assembly Bill 997 creates a Council on Women Offenders (Council) in the DOC to review the problems and needs of women offenders throughout the correctional system, to advise the Secretary of Corrections on those problems and needs, and to recommend necessary program and policy changes. In addition, the Bill directs the DOC to designate women offender coordinator(s) to develop and provide coordination for policies and programs in the DOC relating to women offenders and to provide staff support to the Council, and creates a long-range State planning process for consideration of the service, programming, and other needs, including culturally specific needs, of women offenders under the custody or supervision of the DOC. Also included in the report are listings, including mailing addresses, of the members of the Wisconsin Legislative Council and the Special Committee on Women Offenders in the Correctional System (Committee), a letter from the Secretary of the DOC supporting the establishment of an ongoing workgroup on women offender's issues and programs, and a listing of Committee materials.