Senator Crowder presented Senate Bill 18-238 to the committee. This bill makes several changes to statutes concerning labor of persons in county jails.
Under current law and with some exceptions, offenders sentenced to county jail are required to work eight hours per working day while in jail. When no work is available inside the jail, the sheriff must compel prisoners to work on the public roads, highways, or streets of that county or city and county. This bill specifies that work outside of the jail may include work performed on any public property.
At the sole discretion of the sheriff, any person confined in county jail, who has not been convicted and sentenced, may volunteer to work while confined in the county jail in the same manner as offenders sentenced to jail.
Under current law, the county or city and county is required to pay for additional security costs related to work outside of the jail. This bill clarifies that this reimbursement may include costs associated with work on any public property and is subject to available funds.
Inmates who work inside or outside of the jail must be compensated by the county or city and county for their work. This compensation must be deposited into the inmate's jail account. The rate for this compensation is to be similar to offender pay rates established for the same or similar work performed by an inmate in the Department of Corrections (DOC).
