Bill > S1477

This bill aims to improve transparency and accountability in correctional facilities. The key provisions are: 1. Ensuring incarcerated individuals have the right to confer with news media representatives without restriction, including unimpeded, confidential in-person visitation, video conferencing, and unmonitored telephone communication. News media representatives are defined as those engaged in reporting news for various media outlets. 2. Allowing attorneys to bring news media representatives with them during legal visits with incarcerated individuals. 3. Prohibiting retaliation against incarcerated individuals for communicating with news media representatives. 4. Requiring the collection and quarterly publication of detailed data on the use of force in correctional facilities, including incidents, injuries, and outcomes of investigations. This information will be provided to the legislature and the governor. 5. Granting incarcerated individuals and their representatives the right to obtain records related to any use of force incident involving the individual, with some redactions to protect the privacy of other incarcerated individuals. The bill seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in the correctional system by facilitating media access and reporting, as well as comprehensive data collection and public disclosure on the use of force.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S1477