§ 5034. — 5034. (Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 980, Sec. 1.)

(a)
The department shall establish and maintain an Accountability Letter Bank (ALB) program.
(b)
The goals of the program shall be both of the following:
(1)
To allow victims, survivors, and next of kin to receive a letter of accountability from an incarcerated person when, and if, they choose to receive a letter that is addressed to them.
(2)
To provide an opportunity for incarcerated persons under the jurisdiction of the department to express accountability and remorse for the harm they have caused.
(c)
All letters submitted to the ALB shall be reviewed by an ALB program facilitator to ensure they are not harmful to the victim, survivor, or next of kin.
(d)
If a victim, survivor, or next of kin wishes to receive the offender’s letter, the ALB program facilitator shall make the letter available through any of the following:
(1)
By mail.
(2)
By email.
(3)
Upon request by the victim, survivor, or next of kin, an ALB program facilitator may read the letter with the victim, survivor, or next of kin in person or by telephone.
(e)
If an incarcerated person decides to participate in a
program to draft and submit a letter to the ALB, the program shall be administered by a community-based nonprofit organization.
(f)
Participation in the ALB program shall be voluntary.
(g)
Incarcerated people shall be able to update letters they submit to the ALB. Letters submitted to the ALB shall only be retained for purposes of providing them to the person to whom it is addressed.
(h)
Letters submitted to the ALB shall not be included in an incarcerated person’s central file.
(i)
A letter submitted to the ALB, and a person’s participation in or lack of participation in the ALB program, shall not be considered in a parole suitability decision.

Legislative History

Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 980, Sec. 1. (SB 379) Effective January 1, 2025.