HB 823 -- COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS; THE KANSAS CITY HONOR CENTER

This bill authorizes the Director of the Department of
Corrections to establish a program of restorative justice within
its facilities.  The program will require offenders to offer
acts or expressions of remorse to the victims and the community
affected by the offense.  The program must include community
service work and participation in victim-oriented programs.

The bill also requires the department to establish local
sentencing alternatives to enable offenders to promote
accountability of offenders to crime victims, ensure that
victims are included in the state's response to crime, involve
local communities in sentencing options, reduce the cost of
punishment and supervision, and improve public confidence in the
criminal justice system.

The department must also provide training for eligible
volunteers and develop specific conditions of a probation
program.  These conditions may include compensation and
restitution, participation in victim-offender mediation, impact
panels, and community service.

The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Administration to enter
into a contract, after all bid requirements have been satisfied,
with a developer for the design and construction of a minimum
security correctional facility in Kansas City.

This bill contains an emergency clause for the Kansas City
correctional facility portion of the bill.

HB 823 -- COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (Lumpe)

This bill authorizes the Director of the Department of
Corrections to establish a program of restorative justice within
its facilities.  It would require offenders to offer acts or
expressions of remorse for the offense committed to the victims
and the community affected by the offense.  The program must
include community service work and participation in
victim-oriented programs.

The bill also requires the department to establish local
sentencing alternatives to enable offenders to promote
accountability of offenders to crime victims, ensure that
victims are included in the state's response to crime, involve
local communities in sentencing options, reduce the cost of
punishment and supervision, and improve the public confidence in
the criminal justice system.

The department must also provide training for eligible
volunteers and develop specific conditions of a probation
program.  These conditions may include compensation and
restitution, participation in victim-offender mediation, impact
panels, and community service.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HB 823 -- Community Corrections

SPONSOR:  Lumpe

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on  Correctional and State Institutions by a vote of 14 to 0.

This bill authorizes the Director of the Department of
Corrections to establish a program of restorative justice within
its facilities.  It would require offenders to offer acts or
expressions of remorse for the offense committed to the victims
and the community affected by the offense.  The program must
include community service work and participation in
victim-oriented programs.

The bill also requires the department to establish local
sentencing alternatives to enable offenders to promote
accountability of offenders to crime victims, ensure that
victims are included in the state's response to crime, involve
local communities in sentencing options, reduce the cost of
punishment and supervision, and improve the public confidence in
the criminal justice system.

The department must also provide training for eligible
volunteers and develop specific conditions of a probation
program.  These conditions may include compensation and
restitution, participation in victim-offender mediation, impact
panels, and community service.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill would allow local
communities to become more involved in the sentencing process by
having members of the community working with local courts to
determine sentencing options.  They also believe it will promote
accountability with certain offenders, which will bring them out
of the system sooner and be more likely to make them responsible
members of the community.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Lumpe; and the
Department of Corrections.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Bob Dominique, Research Analyst

HB 823 -- Community Corrections

Sponsor:  Lumpe

This bill authorizes the Director of the Department of
Corrections to establish a program of restorative justice within
its facilities.  It would require offenders to offer acts or
expressions of remorse for the offense committed to the victims
and the community affected by the offense.  The program must
include community service work and participation in
victim-oriented programs.

The bill also requires the department to establish local
sentencing alternatives to enable offenders to promote
accountability of offenders to crime victims, ensure that
victims are included in the state's response to crime, involve
local communities in sentencing options, reduce the cost of
punishment and supervision, and improve the public confidence in
the criminal justice system.

The department must also provide training for eligible
volunteers and develop specific conditions of a probation
program.  These conditions may include compensation and
restitution, participation in victim-offender mediation, impact
panels, and community service.