HB 180 -- WOMEN'S OFFENDER PROGRAM

SPONSOR:  Thompson

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on Correctional and State Institutions by a vote of 13 to 0.

This bill creates the women's offender program within the
Department of Corrections.  Women offenders under the program
will be provided a continuum of supervision strategies and
program services for female probationers, prisoners, and
parolees.

The bill also establishes an advisory committee for women's
programs.  It will be the duty of the advisory committee to
address the needs of women in the criminal justice system.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
$96,613 to Unknown in FY 2002, $99,092 to Unknown in FY 2003,
and $101,613 to Unknown in FY 2004.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill is needed to help meet
the needs of incarcerated women.  The current offender
classifications within the department are basically set up for
men, and this classification is needed to make sure that women
can get the proper services and treatment while in custody of
the department.  It is necessary to do this statutorily because
all classifications within the department are set up by statute.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Thompson; Department
of Corrections; National Association for Social Welfare; and
Missouri Catholic Conference.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Bob Dominique, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:42 am