Minnesota Session Laws - 2021, Regular Session

CHAPTER 17--S.F.No. 1315

An act

relating to corrections; authorizing the placement of pregnant and postpartum female inmates in community-based programs; requiring reports;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 244.065.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 244.065, is amended to read:

244.065 PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT OF new text begin INMATES OR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMMING FOR PREGNANT new text end INMATES OF STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN COMMUNITY.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Work. new text end

When consistent with the public interest and the public safety, the commissioner of corrections may conditionally release an inmate to work at paid employment, seek employment, or participate in a vocational training or educational program, as provided in section 241.26, if the inmate has served at least one half of the term of imprisonment.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Pregnancy. new text end

new text begin (a) In the furtherance of public interest and community safety, the commissioner of corrections may conditionally release: new text end

new text begin (1) for up to one year postpartum, an inmate who gave birth within eight months of the date of commitment; and new text end

new text begin (2) for the duration of the pregnancy and up to one year postpartum, an inmate who is pregnant. new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may conditionally release an inmate under paragraph (a) to community-based programming for the purpose of participation in prenatal or postnatal care programming and to promote mother-child bonding in addition to other programming requirements as established by the commissioner, including evidence-based parenting skills programming; working at paid employment; seeking employment; or participating in vocational training, an educational program, or chemical dependency or mental health treatment services. new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall develop policy and criteria to implement this subdivision according to public safety and generally accepted correctional practice. new text end

new text begin (d) By April 1 of each year, the commissioner shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over corrections on the number of inmates released and the duration of the release under this subdivision for the prior calendar year. new text end

Presented to the governor May 12, 2021

Signed by the governor May 13, 2021, 3:13 p.m.