HB 726

Abstract

Use of canines in correctional and juvenilecorrectional facilities; prohibited acts. Provides that it is unlawful for any correctional officer or other employee of a statecorrectional facility or juvenile correctional facility who is permittedto handle canines to use a canine to (i) extract a prisoner from his cell or (ii) intervene in an altercation, fight, or other incidentbetween three or fewer prisoners. The bill provides that the Departmentof Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall makepublic any policies and regulations relating to (a) the use of canines,(b) training requirements for both canines and the handlers of suchcanines, and (c) the supervision of the officers or employees whoare permitted to handle such canines. The bill requires the Departmentof Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice to track allcanine uses of force and all incidents in which canines were presentor requested for assistance but no canine use of force occurred andto make such information available on the Departments' websites.