Policy
Policy, Resolutions & Legislative Issues Committee
The Policy, Resolutions & Legislative Issues Committee reviews, interprets, and responds to ongoing and new issues in Congress as well as at the state level. The committee drafts written ASCA policies and recommends member resolutions. Specific goals are:
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To review state and federal legislative issues as well as other organizational issues that are germane to the membership’s interest and which have serious impact on correctional administration;
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To draft and present a resolution and/or policy regarding the issue(s) and impact(s) to the Executive Committee;
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To organize selected members as directed by the Executive Committee to develop a plan of action to address the issue(s); and
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To implement the plan of action and report results to the Executive Committee
Response to the Vera Institute’s Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons and Jails Final Report
ASCA Press Release (PDF)
Letter to Senators Coburn and Durbin (PDF)
Violence and Safety in American Corrections: What the Research Shows (PPT)
ASCA Resolutions
Americans with Disabilities Act
Resolves that the language, provisions, and intent of ADA be amended so as to exempt pretrial and sentenced prisoners.
Evaluating the Effects of Incarceration in Adult Facilities on Youthful Offenders
Recommends that it is appropriate to qualify “juveniles," or youthful offenders, as a "special needs" population when they are admitted to adult corrections agencies, to house and treat them accordingly, to classify objectively "juveniles," or youthful offenders according to criminal history, psychological profile, and any prior institutional behavior and to to provide special programs for these populations based on statutory requirements and individual needs assessments.
Establishment of Policies Regarding Sexual Harassment, Activity or Abuse
Strongly encourages each of its member agencies to adopt and vigorously enforce explicit policies prohibiting all forms of staff sexual harassment, activity, or abuse between correctional employees and offenders and supports enactment of state legislation establishing criminal penalties for sexual harassment, activity, or abuse involving correctional staff and offenders and further supports aggressive prosecution of correctional staff who violate these laws.
Need for Federal Funding for Aftercare for Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
Urges Congress to continue to authorize and fund the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program and that additional funding be provided for the
program to be used for nonresidential substance abuse treatment aftercare services for inmates or offenders under supervision in the community.
Provides the opportunity to share information and dialogue with related nonprofit or public institution or associations, invites representatives to attend the regularly scheduled Business Meetings and annual professional development seminar of the Association.
Religious Land Use and Institutional Persons Act
Resolves that the language, provisions, and intent of RLUIPA be amended so as to exempt pretrial and sentenced prisoners.
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) Funding
Urges that SCAAP receive sufficient funding, greater than or equal to the FY ’02 funding, on the FY ‘03 Commerce, Justice and State Appropriations Bill to
fully reimburse state and local governments for the costs of incarceration of criminal aliens.
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Funding
Supports full flexibility in the allocation and utilization of Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) funds relative to the length and type of eligible substance abuse programming in institutional and community formats.
The Study of Consensual and Nonconsensual Inmate Sexual Behavior
Supports research into the behavioral dynamics of the sexual behavior of prisoners that takes into account the complex relationship among inmates and the results of which will better inform correctional administrators and the public.
Resolves that the Association of State Correctional Administrators work collaboratively with the American Correctional Association, and other appropriate professional associations in formulating and recommending to the National Prison Rape Reduction Commission, a set of professional standards to enhance prevention, detection, punishment, and overall reduction of prison rape.
Need for Federal Funding for Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
Supports legislation to fund the provision of addiction treatment for offenders in prison and subsequent to release to the community, and resolves that such appropriations should allow full flexibility in the allocation and utilization Substance Abuse Treatment funds relative to the length and type of eligible substance abuse programming in institutional and community formats.
Urges the IRS to include Corrections Officers and Probation and Parole Officers within the definition of public safety officers for purposes of the Pension Protection Act.
Neighborhood Exclusion of Predatory Sex Offenders
Calls upon all legislative bodies to take into consideration the unintended consequences of statutes intended to exclude these offenders from neighborhoods or locations and supports legislation which is reasonably related to the ability of community corrections agencies to afford proper supervision and oversight to predatory sex offenders and which is practical, enforceable and likely to result in the protection from sexual predators of children and others in the community.
Telecommunications Access for Inmates
Resolved that Correctional agencies should ensure that: contracts involving telecommunications services for adult/juvenile offenders comply with all applicable state and federal regulations; contracts are based on rates and surcharges that are commensurate with those charged to the general public for like services. Any deviation from ordinary consumer rates should reflect actual costs associated with the provision of services in a correctional setting; and that
contracts for adult/juvenile offender telecommunications services provide the broadest range of calling options determined to be consistent with the requirements of sound correctional management.
Opposes efforts to repeal and/or amend the PLRA of 1996.
Urges states, territories and the federal government agencies to assist correctional agencies and institutions in maintaining and/or restoring benefits for Medicaid, Veterans, Social Security and other entitlements of otherwise-eligible incarcerated persons and provide continuity of benefits to persons newly-released from custody to promote reentry, public health, and public safety.