HP0972
LD 1414
Session - 128th Maine Legislature
C "A", Filing Number H-618, Sponsored by
LR 2055
Item 2
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:

Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §1556-A  is enacted to read:

§ 1556-A Visitation

Except as otherwise provided in this section, and subject to any conditions and limitations required for the safety and security of a county jail as determined on a case-by-case basis by the sheriff of the county jail, the sheriff shall provide for in-person visitation between a prisoner and a visitor of the prisoner.

1 Video-only visitation.   Upon a determination by the sheriff of a county jail that in-person visitation between a particular prisoner and a visitor of the prisoner may jeopardize the safety and security of the jail, the sheriff may restrict that prisoner to video-only visitation. Upon a determination by the sheriff that the jail facility is unable to provide a safe and secure location for any in-person visitation, the sheriff, on a short-term basis only, may restrict all visitation at the jail to video-only visitation.
2 Contact visitation.   Subject to any conditions and limitations required for the safety and security of a county jail as determined on a case-by-case basis by the sheriff, the sheriff shall provide opportunities for in-person visitation involving physical contact between a prisoner and a visitor of the prisoner, unless the sheriff determines that the jail facility is unable to provide a safe and secure location for any in-person visitation involving physical contact.

SUMMARY

This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. It requires the sheriff of a county jail to provide for in-person visitation between a prisoner and a visitor of the prisoner, subject to any conditions and limitations required for the safety and security of the jail as determined on a case-by-case basis by the sheriff. The amendment authorizes a sheriff to restrict a particular prisoner to video-only visitation upon a determination that allowing in-person visitation for that prisoner may jeopardize the safety and security of the jail. The amendment also requires the sheriff to provide opportunities for in-person visitation involving physical contact between a prisoner and a visitor of the prisoner, subject to any conditions and limitations required for the safety and security of the jail as determined on a case-by-case basis by the sheriff.


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