30:1B-6.8 Duties of Commissioner.

4. The Commissioner of Corrections shall:

a. place an inmate who has a minor child in a State correctional facility as close as possible to that child's place of residence at the request of the inmate and prior to sentencing;

b. establish policies that encourage and promote visitation, particularly for inmates who are primary caretaker parents, including, but not limited to:

(1) requiring the visitation program be in operation at least six days per week, including Saturday and Sunday, for at least three hours per visit;

(2) prohibiting restrictions on the number of minor children allowed to visit an inmate;

(3) authorizing up to three adult visitors; and

(4) authorizing contact visits;

c. prohibit the isolated confinement of a pregnant woman;

d. prohibit a staff member of, or medical service provider for, a correctional facility from restraining a woman known to be pregnant or applying restraints during any stage of labor, any pregnancy related medical distress, delivery, or postpartum;

e. provide parenting classes to primary caretaker parents;

f. provide appropriate trauma informed care to inmates who are primary caretaker parents and train correctional police officers on how to interact with inmates who are victims of trauma;

g. allow former inmates who have returned to society, after appropriate internal clearance, to mentor current inmates who are incarcerated primary caretaker parents and assist these inmates with reentry efforts;

h. require standard feminine hygiene products, including but not limited to, tampons and sanitary pads, be provided at the request of and free of charge to female inmates, and petroleum jelly, aspirin, ibuprofen, and any other item deemed appropriate by the commissioner, to be made available to inmates from the commissary or medical department;

i. restrict correctional police officers and other department employees from entering the restrooms and shower facilities of inmates of the opposite sex when occupied except when deemed necessary by the commissioner; and

j. allow all pregnant women and inmates who are primary caretaker parents to enroll in residential drug abuse and mental health programs provided they meet the requirements of those programs.

L.2019, c.288, s.4.