INCREASE IN PRISONER RIGHTS. STATUTE.

Amends California Penal Code to provide additional rights to adult prisoners. Requires that prisoners have a right to: 1) confidential meetings and correspondence with media; 2) minimum 56 hours per week visitation; 3) minimum time periods for recreation and entertainment; 4) contact and family overnight visitation for inmates not housed in segregation, security, or intake; 5) specified minimum access to personal property, canteen goods, and entertainment appliances; 6) specified minimum telephone access; and 7) access to movies rated “PG-13,” “R,” and “NC-17.” Eliminates prison authorities’ discretion to prohibit access to material deemed obscene. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Increased prison operating costs of several tens of millions of dollars annually primarily to increase inmate access to visiting. One-time capital outlay costs of up to a couple tens of millions of dollars to construct and renovate prison visiting facilities. (Initiative 07-0040.) (Full Text)