Bill > H1486

This bill aims to reduce recidivism among "emerging adults" - individuals who have reached the age of criminal majority but are not yet 25 years old. The key provisions of the bill include: - Defining "emerging adult" in the law and requiring the Department of Corrections to adopt policies and procedures specifically tailored to the needs of this population, such as individualized rehabilitation programs, trauma-informed assessments and interventions, wellness activities, educational and vocational opportunities, family engagement, and limits on the use of restrictive housing and force. - Extending certain protections and rights already provided to minors, such as access to education and visitation with family members, to emerging adults in jails and prisons. - Requiring the Department of Corrections to facilitate continuity of community-based healthcare services for emerging adults before, during, and after incarceration. - Prohibiting the detention of emerging adults in secure facilities solely due to a lack of suitable living arrangement or placement by another state agency. The overall goal of the bill is to promote the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of emerging adults in the criminal justice system, recognizing their unique developmental needs and vulnerabilities compared to older offenders.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1486