§ 148-22. Treatment programs.
§148‑22. Treatment programs.
(a) The generalpolicies, rules and regulations of the Department of Correction shall providefor humane treatment of prisoners and for programs to effect their correctionand return to the community as promptly as practicable. Visits andcorrespondence between prisoners and approved friends shall be authorized underreasonable conditions, and family members shall be permitted and encouraged tomaintain close contact with the prisoners unless such contacts prove to behurtful. Casework, counseling, and psychotherapy services provided toprisoners may be extended to include members of the prisoner's family ifpracticable and necessary to achieve the purposes of such programs. Education,library, recreation, and vocational training programs shall be developed so asto coordinate with corresponding services and opportunities which will beavailable to the prisoner when he is released. Programs may be established forthe treatment and training of mentally retarded prisoners and other specialgroups. These programs may be operated in segregated sections of facilitieshousing other prisoners or in separate facilities.
(b) The Department ofCorrection may cooperate with and seek the cooperation of public and privateagencies, institutions, officials, and individuals in the development andconduct of programs designed to give persons committed to the Departmentopportunities for physical, mental and moral improvement. The Department mayenter into agreements with other agencies of federal, State or local governmentand with private agencies to promote the most effective use of availableresources.
Specifically the Secretary ofCorrection may enter into contracts or agreements with appropriate public orprivate agencies offering needed services including health, mental health,mental retardation, substance abuse, rehabilitative or training services forsuch inmates of the Department of Correction as the Secretary may deemeligible. These agencies shall be reimbursed from applicable appropriations tothe Department of Correction for services rendered at a rate not to exceed thatwhich such agencies normally receive for serving their regular clients.
The Secretary may contract forthe housing of work‑release inmates at county jails and local confinementfacilities. Inmates may be placed in the care of such agencies but shall remainthe responsibility of the Department and shall be subject to the completesupervision of the Department. The Department may reimburse such agencies forthe support of such inmates at a rate not in excess of the average daily costof inmate care in the corrections unit to which the inmate would otherwise beassigned. (1917, c. 286, s. 15; C.S., s. 7732; 1925, c. 163;1933, c. 172, s. 18; 1955, c. 238, s. 9; 1967, c. 996, s. 5; 1975, c. 679, ss.1, 2; 1977, c. 297; 1983, c. 376; 1985, c. 589, s. 55.)