AB 740

This bill creates conditions that must be met when placing an inmate of a state prison or county jail in solitary confinement.

Under current law, for violating the rules of the state prison or county jail, an inmate may be kept in solitary confinement, under the care and advice of a physician. In a county jail, the period of solitary confinement may not exceed 10 days.

The bill provides that, for violating the rules of the state prison, the period of solitary confinement may not exceed 10 days and further provides that in a state prison or county jail, a person may not be placed in solitary confinement sooner than 60 days after being released from a previous period of solitary confinement.

The bill provides that, if an inmate has been placed in solitary confinement, the warden or superintendent of the prison or sheriff of the county jail must provide to the inmate within two hours all of the following items: at least one book that belongs to the inmate, of the inmate’s choice, a pen or pencil, at least 10 pieces of paper, at least 10 envelopes, the inmate’s personal address book, soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, and if the inmate is menstruating, feminine hygiene products. The bill also requires that if the inmate is pregnant, they must be allowed, within two hours of confinement, access to their prenatal care team, including doula services if applicable, via an in-person a hybrid method that utilizes technological means. The bill also requires that the inmate must be allowed to access, within 24 hours of confinement, three 25-minute visitation periods per week to be conducted via live audiovisual means. The bill also requires that, beginning within 48 hours after confinement, the inmate is provided with at least 15 hours per week of structured programming in his or her cell, which must include visits of at least 30 minutes at least twice per week from the inmate’s assigned case manager and at least five times per week from representatives for a variety of other services. The bill also requires that the inmate receive an in-person visit of at least 30 minutes on at least two separate days per week from the inmate’s housing unit manager, a corrections captain, a complaint examiner, or, for inmates of a state correctional institution, the warden or superintendent or his or her deputy or, for inmates of a county jail, a corrections commander, superintendent, assistant superintendent, or sheriff.