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Home > Special Projects: Corrections Alternatives Advisory Committee > Enabling Legislation

Corrections Alternative Advisory Committee Enabling Legislation

PART J

Sec. J-1. Corrections Alternatives study. The Department of Corrections will conduct a study which identifies the cost and benefits and cost savings associated with the alternative corrections service delivery options.

1. Advisory Committee established. The Corrections Alternatives Advisory Committee is established to guide the development of the study of corrections service delivery options. The Advisory Committee is not a decision making body, but serves to provide advice and information to the Department of Corrections. The Advisory Committee consists of 8 members appointed as follows:

  1. The Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and two state corrections officials designated by the Commissioner;
  2. A representative of a statewide association of county commissioners nominated by the association and appointed by the Governor;
  3. A representative of a statewide association of county sheriffs nominated by the association and appointed by the Governor;
  4. A representative of a statewide association of county jails nominated by the association and appointed by the Governor;
  5. A municipal representative appointed by the Governor.

    The Governor shall ask the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to serve or name a designee to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee.


    The Advisory Committee shall consult with labor unions representing both state and county employees and keep them informed regularly throughout the development of the study.

2. Appointments; chairs; meetings. All appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this Act. The Governor shall appoint two co-chairs from among the membership of the committee, one representing the Department of Corrections and one representing county government. The co-chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the committee no later than 15 days after appointments of all members. The Advisory Committee may meet as often as necessary to accomplish their work

3. Duties of the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee will oversee the development of a study which identifies the cost and benefits and cost savings associated with alternative corrections service delivery options that may include, but are not limited to:

  1. Improved collaboration between State and County government; and
  2. Regionalization opportunities and cost reductions
Each option will consider cost benefits and cost reductions, improved economies of scale, effective bed space management, appropriate staffing levels, and equal or improved program and service delivery.

Options will be analyzed within the goal of achieving efficiencies and managing the cost of correctional services at both the state and county level. The study will include recommendations which include, but are not limited to:

  1. restructuring of county jails;
  2. a decision making process to approve the construction and financing of new correctional facilities;
  3. criteria for the use of an incentive fund established to further the recommendations of the study; and
  4. the level of state funding of county jails to include the existing funding through the Community Corrections Act and the County Jail Prisoner Support; and
  5. increased funding of cost effective correctional service delivery through the directing of other state revenues to fund the incentive program.

4. Report. Interim reports and proposed recommendations will be presented to the Intergovernmental Advisory Group for their review. The Intergovernmental Advisory Group will serve as a forum for soliciting public comment. The Department of Corrections will deliver the results of the final study with recommendations and implementing legislation to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government no later than January 1, 2006. The cost of the study will not exceed $300,000.

5. Corrections Incentive Fund recommendation. The Commissioner of the Department of Corrections will submit legislation establishing a Corrections Incentive Fund to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government no later than February 1, 2006. The purpose of the proposed Corrections Incentive Fund will be to achieve significant and sustainable savings in the cost of delivering correctional services by funding proposals which are consistent with the final study recommendations. The legislation will also include a provision for evaluating the effectiveness of the incentive fund and a requirement to sunset the fund unless there is sufficient evidence presented by the Department of Corrections to continue the program.