I hold 48 college credits from five different colleges.

I was a co-creator in an art project called “Shared Dining” that was exhibited in The Brooklyn Museum, The American Visionary Art Museum and Maier Museum @ Randolph College. Since being home I’ve been invited to speak at many different venues.

The reason i speak is because after watching the inner workings of the only female Correctional facility for twenty three entire years of my life- i am an expert in the hidden truths behind the recidivism rate.

I know why the cage bird doesn’t heal. It’s not allowed.

I’m not really sure what actual blogs look like or are suppose to look like, that’s how technologically challenged i am however I’ve got a wealth of information that i know is of interest.

I can change the recidivism rate- but the right people have to be listening.

And those of you who were in the myst of the storm have to help me unveil the truth.

See people- outsiders -who simply can’t know- I don’t blame you. I mean if you have never stepped into York, you couldn’t know.

Only those who were there can give accurate accounts but when you hear it- you may wonder why this is the first time hearing it. Why aren’t you hearing that there are lawsuits up the… well here’s why

Topic:

LEGISLATION; LIABILITY (LAW); PRISONS AND PRISONERS; VOCATIONAL EDUCATION; CORRECTIONS; DENTISTS; MEDICAL CARE; REAL PROPERTY;

Location:

PRISONS AND PRISONERS;

March 13, 2006

2006-R-0231

INMATES PAYING FOR COSTS OF THEIR INCARCERATION

By: Christopher Reinhart, Senior Attorney

You asked about the law requiring inmates to pay for the costs of their incarceration.

SUMMARY

State law requires the Department of Correction (DOC) commissioner to adopt regulations to assess inmates for the costs of their incarceration (CGS § 18-85a). Pursuant to this statutory requirement, the commissioner adopted regulations that require charging inmates for the costs of their use of various services and programs. An inmate is a person confined or formerly confined in a correctional facility under a sentence imposed by a Connecticut state court.

The regulations define the per-inmate, per-day cost of incarceration at DOC facilities as the amount computed using the same accounting procedures the comptroller uses to calculate such costs for state humane institutions. The regulations also make inmates responsible for the costs of certain services and programs such as sick calls; dental procedures; eyeglasses; elective and vocational educational programs; extended family visits; and lab tests to detect illegal drugs, if the results are positive (§ 18-85a-1-4 Regulations of Ct. State Agencies; a copy is enclosed.).

The law gives the state a claim for the costs of incarceration against an inmate’s property but it excludes certain types of property. In addition to other legal remedies, the attorney general can bring an action to enforce the claim in Superior Court in the Hartford judicial district at DOC’s request. The action must be brought within two years of the inmate’s release from prison or within two years of his death if he dies while in DOC custody. This restriction does not apply to property that is fraudulently concealed.

According to the Office of Fiscal Analysis, DOC collected $609,198 in FY 03, $1,316,190 in FY 04, $1,549,586 in FY 05, and $819,301 during FY 06 through November 30, 2005 (a fiscal year runs from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next year).

INMATES DUTY TO PAY FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

The regulations specify that the inmate’s responsibility to pay for the use of services and programs is governed by the following schedule:

1. elective education programs, $3.00 per course;

2. vocational-education programs, $3.00 per course;

3. participation in extended family visits, $10.00 per visit;

4. sick call (inmate initiated visits), $3.00 per visit;

5. dental procedures, $3.00 per procedure;

6. eyeglasses, $3.00 per prescription; and

7. laboratory tests taken to detect illegal use of drugs where results are positive, actual cost of confirmation test (§ 18-85a-3 Ct. Regs).

PROPERTY SUBJECT TO THE STATE’S CLAIM

The law gives the state a claim against any property owned by an inmate except:

1. property the inmate acquired after he was released from incarceration;

2. property acquired for work performed during incarceration as part of a program designated or defined in DOC regulation as job training, skill development, a career opportunity, or an enhancement program;

3. money from a contract for reenacting the inmate’s violent crime in various media (such as movies and books) or from the expression of the person’s thoughts or feelings about the crime which by law must be paid to the Office of Victim Services; and

4. property that is statutorily exempt from execution to satisfy court judgments and exempt property of a farm partnership.

But the claim does apply to lottery and pari-mutuel winnings after the person’s release from prison; his estate, inheritance, and lawsuit proceeds won within a certain period after his release from prison; and certain federal, state, or municipal pension, annuity, insurance contracts, and similar items that are for government employee retirement benefits (subject to the rights of an alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order).

Some of the provisions on the types of property subject to the state’s claim only apply to actions and proceedings pending or commencing on or after June 8, 2004, when PA 04-234 took effect to change the law.

Lawsuit Proceeds

Whenever a person who owes the state money for the cost of his incarceration wins a lawsuit judgment, the state’s claim is a lien against the proceeds. The maximum amount of the claim is the full cost of the inmate’s incarceration or 50% of the proceeds, minus certain expenses, whichever is less.

The incarceration lien has priority over all other claims, including any state lien for repayment of public assistance, except:

1. child support obligations the state can collect in public assistance repayments from a person’s lawsuit proceeds (by law these funds must first reimburse Medicaid for coverage related to injuries that were the basis of the lawsuit);

2. expenses of the lawsuit, including attorney’s fees;

3. hospitalization costs connected with the lawsuit not paid by insurance or other benefits;

4. physicians’ fees associated with the hospitalization that the state has not paid for and that insurance or other benefits do not cover;

5. court-ordered restitution or compensation to a crime victim; and

6. payment of a civil judgment to a crime victim.

The proceeds are assignable to the state. The lien requires the inmate’s attorney to pay DOC from the proceeds. But, if the attorney gives DOC written notice of a settlement or judgment that requests the lien amount and DOC does not provide it within 45 days, the attorney can distribute the proceeds to the inmate and is not liable to the state.

This provision applies to lawsuits brought within 20 years of the person’s release from incarceration.

Inheritance

When a person who owes the state money for the cost of his incarceration inherits property or money, the state’s claim is a lien against the inheritance for the total cost of his incarceration or 50% of the inheritance, whichever is less. There is no reduction in this amount. The probate court must accept any lien notice that DOC files and, to the extent the estate has not already been paid out, order the estate distributed accordingly.

This provision applies to inheritances within 20 years of the person’s release from incarceration.

Death of Person Owing Costs of Incarceration

When someone who owes the state money for the cost of his incarceration dies, the state has a lien against his estate up to the total cost of his incarceration to the extent the estate is not needed to support his surviving spouse, parent, or dependent children. The lien has priority over all other unsecured claims, including public assistance liens, except for (1) child support obligations the state can collect in public assistance repayments; (2) up to $375 for the expenses of his last sickness; (3) state payments of up to $1,200 for funeral and burial expenses to a person who received state supplement or temporary family assistance; (4) court-ordered restitution or compensation to a crime victim; (5) payment of a civil judgment to a crime victim; and (6)

administrative expenses, including probate taxes and fees and fiduciary fees up to certain limits. If the deceased inmate has a prepaid funeral arrangement, the funeral and burial exception amount must be reduced by the amount of the arrangement.

The law allows priority for fiduciary fees, based on the value of the estate, only up to certain limits. It allows 5% for the first $2,000; 4% for the next $8,000; and 3% for the remainder. The probate court, after a hearing with a 10-day notice to DOC, can authorize payment above these levels for extraordinary services.

If the estate has paid any amount exceeding these limits, the person who received it must repay the estate and the state can recover the amount, with interest at the legal rate, by civil suit.

This provision applies to the estate of someone who dies within 20 years of his release from incarceration.

CR:dw

So you see why would one sit through months and months litigation- suing the state, only to hand it right over to DOC.

This law in itself is a form of double jeopardy- there was nothing in my sentencing about being ordered tp pay the state restitution for my twenty-three year stay- but now I mysteriously can’t be left in any wills, I’m not allowed to win the lottery or a law suit.

It’s a way to keep people with Criminal records down- if the real concern was getting the state i.e. tax payers their money back. Then how bout this? We stop sending so many people to prison in the first place. That would save money for tax payers but really prison has become an industry of people warehouses not invested in helping stop crime or corrections.

Most of what corrections offer in the way of corrections is offered by outside volunteers who bring us hope. There is some well-intended programming offered by DOC that people like the Governor worked hard to start. But the problem is healing and abuse can’t dwell in the same compound.

To better explain you can’t get better if people are allowed to abuse you. And in York CI that’s exactly the case.

I can’t speak for any other prison but you know the adage, if I could be a fly on the wall… York had no idea- i was the fly on the wall-

I absorbed every dirty detail.

For twenty three years i imagined freedom through every persons eyes who ever cared to share their stories. Now i want to lend society my eyes so that you see the truth that’s locked in and away.

I want to post but i need to be convinced your listening.