11-R424
2011 -- H 6265 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/30/11
H O U S E R E S
O L U T I O N
REQUESTING THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION TO EVALUATE THE EXISTING GOOD TIME CREDIT
POLICY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Ajello, Walsh, Dickinson, and Lally
Date Introduced: June 15, 2011
WHEREAS, The Rhode
Island General Assembly created the Criminal Justice Oversight
Commission as codified in Rhode Island General Laws
42-26-13; and
WHEREAS, The Criminal
Justice Oversight Commission is comprised of the Attorney
General, the Superintendent of the State Police, the
Director of the Department of Corrections,
the Chairperson of the Parole Board, the Public Defender,
members of the Judiciary, a
representative of a victims’ rights group, and other individuals who
have knowledge and expertise
of the criminal justice system in
WHEREAS, The Criminal
Justice Oversight Commission is authorized under law to
coordinate, monitor, and evaluate systematic improvements
regarding the operation of the
criminal justice system including matters relating to the
inmate population and the state’s prison
facilities; and
WHEREAS, The State of
Rhode Island has previously supported the public policy that it
is proper for prisoners to receive time credits towards
early release for good behavior while they
are incarcerated because this type of credit provides a
deterrent against inappropriate behavior
and acts as an incentive to address rehabilitative needs;
and
WHEREAS, Recent and
well-publicized events, including the potential release of
criminals who could pose a threat to the safety and well-being
of law-abiding members of society,
have called into question the current procedures,
policies, and practices regarding the awarding of
good time credits; and
WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the citizens of
Justice Oversight Commission to research, deliberate, and make recommendations on how to deal
with the awarding of good time credits on a going forward
basis including, but not limited to,
considering a multi-tiered approach to the awarding of good time
credits in order to ensure that
those prisoners who have committed offenses of violence,
those whose crimes were egregious in
nature, and those who could pose a threat to society do not
receive credits that would facilitate an
early release back into society; now, therefore be
it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of
Providence Plantations
hereby requests the Criminal Justice Oversight Commission to evaluate
the existing Good Time Credit Policy and make
recommendations to the House of
Representatives on or
before January 3, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Chair
of the Criminal Justice Oversight
Commission.
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LC02886/SUB A/2
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