HF 493

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 01/28/2019 01:58pm

A bill for an act
relating to corrections; establishing guidelines for the use of administrative and
disciplinary segregation in state correctional institutions; requiring a report;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 243.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [243.521] ADMINISTRATIVE AND DISCIPLINARY SEGREGATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Authorization. new text end

new text begin In any adult correctional facility under the control of the
commissioner of corrections, the commissioner may require an inmate to be placed in
disciplinary segregation for rule violations involving use of a weapon or infliction of bodily
harm, or in administrative segregation for the safety of the inmate or others, subject to the
requirements of this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Conditions in segregated housing. new text end

new text begin The segregation unit shall provide regular
meals, fully furnished cells, appropriate reading materials, limited recreational facilities, at
least three hours a day out of cell, lights off during the nighttime hours, rights of
communication and visitation by those properly authorized, and other privileges as may be
established by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Review of disciplinary segregation status. new text end

new text begin An inmate who serves 15 days in
disciplinary segregation shall have the inmate's segregation status reviewed at that time by
the warden of the institution and every 15 days thereafter. An inmate who serves 60 days
in disciplinary segregation shall have the inmate's segregation status reviewed at that time
by the commissioner of corrections and every 30 days thereafter.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Graduated disciplinary sanctions. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall design and
implement a graduated scale of responses to infractions, including reprimands, loss of
privileges, and restriction of motion within the institution, so that the use of disciplinary
segregation is reserved for the most serious and persistent infractions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Mental health assessments; transfer to treatment. new text end

new text begin Prior to placement in a
segregation unit within a state correctional facility, an inmate shall be screened by a qualified
mental health professional to determine whether the inmate has a serious mental illness and
whether there are any acute mental health contraindications to placement in a segregated
unit. The screening shall be conducted in accordance with appropriate clinical standards.
If the screening indicates a serious or acute mental illness, the inmate shall be placed in a
secure treatment unit rather than segregation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Mental health care within segregated housing. new text end

new text begin A nurse shall check each
inmate in segregated housing at least once every 24 hours. If the nurse detects mental health
concerns with an inmate, the nurse shall report them to the mental health professional at
the institution. The professional may order the transfer of a mentally ill inmate to a secure
mental health treatment unit where the inmate shall receive psychiatric treatment.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Incentives for return to the general population. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall
design and implement a system of incentives so that an inmate who demonstrates appropriate
behavior can earn additional privileges and an accelerated return to the general population.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Discharge from segregated housing. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall not release
an inmate to the community directly from segregated housing. A segregated inmate must
serve at least 30 days in the general population prior to the inmate's release to the community.
new text end

new text begin (b) An inmate who is being released from segregated housing to the general population
after serving in that status for 30 days or more shall have a diagnostic assessment of mental
health needs and appropriate treatment prior to returning to the general population.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2020, and by January 15 each year thereafter, the
commissioner of corrections shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over public safety and
judiciary on the status of the implementation of the provisions in this section. This report
shall include, but not be limited to, data regarding:
new text end

new text begin (1) the number of inmates in each institution placed in segregation during the past year;
new text end

new text begin (2) the ages of inmates placed in segregation during the past year;
new text end

new text begin (3) the number of inmates transferred from segregation to the mental health treatment
unit;
new text end

new text begin (4) the nature of the infractions leading to the use of segregation;
new text end

new text begin (5) the lengths of terms served in segregation, including terms served consecutively;
and
new text end

new text begin (6) any incidents of inmates not receiving at least one hour a day out of cell.
new text end