Corrections: county of release.

Existing law generally requires that an inmate released on parole or postrelease community supervision be returned to the county of last legal residence. Existing law authorizes an inmate to be returned to another county or city if it would be in the best interests of the public. Existing law requires the paroling authority, in making that decision, to consider specified factors, including, among others, the need to protect the life or safety of a victim, and the verified existence of a work offer or educational or vocational training program. This bill would, for the factor relating to the verified existence of a work offer or educational or vocational training program, require that the offer or training program be chosen by the inmate. The bill would additionally add as a factor the existence of a housing option in another county, as specified. The bill would require the inmate, absent evidence that the parole transfer would present a threat to public safety, to be released in the county in the location of a verified existence of a postsecondary educational or vocational training program of the inmate's choice, or of a verified existence of a work offer, the inmate's family, outpatient treatment, or housing. The bill would also require a person on parole, absent that it would present a threat to public safety, to be granted a permit to travel outside the county of commitment to a location where the person has postsecondary educational or vocational training program opportunities, an employment opportunity, or inpatient or outpatient treatment. The bill would require a person on parole, absent that it would present a threat to public safety, to be granted approval of an application to transfer residency and parole to another county where the person has a verified existence of a postsecondary educational or vocational training program chosen by the inmate, or a verified existence of a work offer, the person's family, inpatient or outpatient treatment, or housing. The bill would require a parole agent to provide a written response to these requests within 14 days, and, if they deny the request, to include in writing the reasons for why granting the request would present a threat to public safety. The bill would authorize the department and probation officers to extend those provisions to individuals released on postrelease community supervision, and would find and declare that the Legislature strongly encourages the department and probation officers to do so. The bill would make these changes operative on and after January 1, 2024.