RS 15:828 Classification and treatment programs; qualified sex offender programs; reports; additional good time
§828. Classification and treatment programs; qualified sex offender programs; reports; additional good time
A.(1) Persons committed to and in the physical custody of the department shall be treated in a humane manner, and the department shall direct efforts toward the rehabilitation of such persons in order to effect their return to the community as promptly as practicable. In order to accomplish this purpose, the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall establish programs of classification and diagnosis, education, casework, counseling and psychotherapy, vocational training and guidance, work, library and religious services, and such other rehabilitation programs as are consistent with available resources, physical custody, and appropriate classification criteria. Such programs shall include but not be limited to the prison rehabilitation pilot program as set forth in R.S. 15:828.1. Additionally, he shall institute procedures to provide for the study and classification of all inmates of penal or correctional institutions under the jurisdiction of the department.
(2)(a) In cases where the offender has been convicted of a violation of a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541 and, in accordance with the penalty provisions of the particular statute, has been sentenced to hard labor in the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and is housed in a state correctional facility, the department, subject to the availability of resources and appropriate individual classification criteria, should provide counseling and therapy by institutional mental health staff in a sex offender program until successfully completed or until expiration of sentence, release on parole in accordance with and when permitted by R.S. 15:574.4, or other release in accordance with law, whichever comes first.
(b) For purposes of this Paragraph, a "sex offender program" means one which includes either or both group and individual therapy and may include arousal reconditioning. Group therapy should be conducted by two therapists, one male and one female, and, subject to availability of staff, at least one of whom should be licensed as a psychologist, board-certified as a psychiatrist, or a clinical social worker.
(c) The social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist shall provide the Board of Parole with progress reports and information in accordance with R.S. 15:574.4(C)(2).
B. The secretary shall adopt rules and regulations for local jail facilities and state correctional institutions to encourage voluntary participation by inmates in certified treatment and rehabilitation programs, including but not limited to basic education, job skills training, values development and faith-based initiatives, therapeutic programs, and treatment programs. When funds are provided, such educational programs shall be available at each penal or correctional institution under the jurisdiction of the department. The rules and regulations may include provisions for furloughs or the awarding of good time, in addition to the provisions of R.S. 15:571.3(B), for offenders who are otherwise eligible. Offenders may be awarded up to one hundred eighty days good time for satisfactory participation in each approved program pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection, but no offender shall receive more than five hundred forty days total good time for program participation.
C. A prisoner who has been denied eligibility for diminution of sentence for good behavior as provided in R.S. 15:537 shall not be eligible for additional good time as provided in Subsection B of this Section.
Added by Acts 1968, No. 192, §1. Acts 1989, No. 336, §1; Acts 1991, No. 51, §1; Acts 1991, No. 766, §1; Acts 1992, No. 723, §1; Acts 1993, No. 484, §1, eff. June 10, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 671, §1; Acts 1993, No. 872, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 110, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 138, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1206, §1; Acts 2006, No. 61, §1; Acts 2009, No. 266, §1.