AB324: Bill Text

LRB-0247/1

MGD:jld:pg

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 324

May 13, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Friske, Bies, Huber, Van Roy, Musser, Hines, F. Lasee, Ladwig, Townsend, Owens, McCormick, Stone, J. Fitzgerald, Hundertmark, Albers, Grothman and Petrowski, cosponsored by Senator S. Fitzgerald. Referred to Committee on Corrections and the Courts.

AB324,1,5 An Act to repeal 302.36 (1g) and 302.36 (1r); to renumber and amend 302.36 (1), 302.36 (2) and 302.36 (3); to amend 302.36 (title); and to create 302.36 (1g) and 302.36 (3) of the statutes; relating to: classification of jail prisoners for determining prisoner housing assignments, the type of prisoner supervision, and the delivery of services and programs to prisoners.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a county jail must keep certain prisoners separate from other prisoners. Prisoners who have not been convicted must be kept separate from prisoners who have been convicted, prisoners who are mentally ill must be kept separate from prisoners who are not mentally ill, and prisoners of different sexes must be kept separate. However, a sheriff, jailer, or keeper of the jail may permit prisoners of different sexes to eat together or to participate together in treatment or in educational, vocational, religious, or athletic activities, if the prisoners are under such supervision that the sheriff, jailer, or keeper of the jail considers necessary.

This bill provides county jails the option of segregating prisoners under current law or of establishing a prisoner classification system for determining prisoner housing assignments, the type of prisoner supervision, and the delivery of services and programs to prisoners. The prisoner classification system must be based on objective criteria, including a prisoner's criminal offense record and gender, information relating to the current offense for which he or she is sentenced, the prisoner's history of behavior in jail, the prisoner's medical and mental health condition, and any other factor necessary to provide for the protection of prisoners, staff, and the general public.

Under the bill, the option of employing the segregation system set forth in current law expires on January 1, 2006. By that date, all jails must adopt a prisoner classification system meeting the requirements discussed above.

For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB324, s. 1 Section 1. 302.36 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB324,2,2 302.36 (title) Segregation and classification of prisoners.

AB324, s. 2 Section 2. 302.36 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 302.36 (1r) (a) and amended to read:

AB324,2,9 302.36 (1r) (a) All jails using a prisoner segregation system shall be provided with suitable wards or buildings or cells in the case of jail extensions under s. 59.54 (14) (g) for the separation of criminals from noncriminals; persons of different sexes; and persons alleged to be mentally ill. All prisoners shall be kept segregated accordingly.

AB324, s. 3 Section 3. 302.36 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB324,2,12 302.36 (1g) The sheriff, jailer, or keeper of a jail shall segregate prisoners under sub. (1r) or establish a prisoner classification system under sub. (3).

AB324, s. 4 Section 4. 302.36 (1g) of the statutes, as created by 2003 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

AB324, s. 5 Section 5. 302.36 (1r) of the statutes, as affected by 2003 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

AB324, s. 6 Section 6. 302.36 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 302.36 (1r) (b) and amended to read:

AB324,3,5 302.36 (1r) (b) Notwithstanding sub. (1), the par. (a), a sheriff, jailer, or keeper segregating prisoners under this subsection may permit prisoners of different sexes to participate together in treatment or in educational, vocational, religious, or athletic activities or to eat together, under such supervision as the sheriff, jailer, or keeper deems necessary.

AB324, s. 7 Section 7. 302.36 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB324,3,15 302.36 (3) If adopted by the sheriff, jailer, or keeper of a jail, a prisoner classification system shall be used to determine prisoner housing assignments, the type of prisoner supervision, and the delivery of services and programs to prisoners. The prisoner classification system shall be based on objective criteria, including a prisoner's criminal offense record and gender, information relating to the current offense for which the prisoner is in jail, the prisoner's history of behavior in jail, the prisoner's medical and mental health condition, and any other factor the sheriff, jailer, or keeper of a jail considers necessary to provide for the protection of prisoners, staff, and the general public.

AB324, s. 8 Section 8. 302.36 (3) of the statutes, as created by 2001 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is renumbered 302.36 and amended to read:

AB324,4,2 302.36 Segregation and classification Classification of prisoners. If adopted by the The sheriff, jailer, or keeper of a jail, shall establish a prisoner classification system that shall be used to determine prisoner housing assignments, the type of prisoner supervision, and the delivery of services and programs to prisoners. The prisoner classification system shall be based on objective criteria, including a prisoner's criminal offense record and gender, information relating to the current offense for which the prisoner is in jail, the prisoner's history of behavior in jail, the prisoner's medical and mental health condition, and any other factor the sheriff, jailer, or keeper of a jail considers necessary to provide for the protection of prisoners, staff, and the general public.

AB324, s. 9 Section 9. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

AB324,4,7 (1) The repeal of section 302.36 (1g) and (1r) of the statutes and the renumbering and amendment of section 302.36 (3) of the statutes take effect on January 1, 2006.

AB324,4,8 (End)