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Nevada bill would raise penalties for bringing synthetic drugs, assaulting prisoners
Summary
A bill presented to the Assembly Judiciary Committee would broaden the definition of contraband in prisons and increase penalties for abuse of inmates and unauthorized custodial conduct, sponsors said. The measure received no public testimony and the committee closed the hearing without a vote.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 35 on Feb. 1, 2025, a measure from the Nevada Attorney General’s Office that would broaden the definition of contraband introduced into state prisons and increase criminal penalties for certain offenses involving prisoners.
Supporters told the committee the bill targets a recent rise in synthetic cannabinoids and other intoxicants entering facilities. “The prisons have seen a huge increase in the introduction of spice through the mail,” said Alyssa Engler, chief deputy attorney general, describing spice as a synthetic marijuana that can be mailed as sheets of paper and purchased online. She told the committee current law treats those introductions as misdemeanors but that the bill would elevate some offenses to more serious felonies or gross misdemeanors.
The bill as explained by Engler would: replace the statutory term “intoxicating liquor” with the broader term “intoxicant” and define that to include controlled-substance analogs, spirituous or malt liquors or beverages, synthetic cannabinoids and other chemical poisons or organic solvents; increase the penalty for introducing certain synthetic products into correctional facilities from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor; and raise the penalties for abuse of a prisoner and for unauthorized custodial conduct, moving some offenses into higher felony categories.
Engler summarized changes to Nevada Revised Statutes cited in the committee presentation, saying the office deleted Section 1 by amendment, that Section 2 replaces “intoxicating liquor” with “intoxicant” (described above), and that Section 3 increases the penalties for abuse of a prisoner under NRS 212.188 and for unauthorized custodial conduct. She said the Attorney General’s Office has primary jurisdiction to prosecute crimes that occur inside state prisons, including crimes by correctional staff.
No members of the public testified in support, opposition or neutral positions during the committee’s public- and phone-based testimony periods. Chair Miller opened and then closed the hearing on SB 35 without a recorded vote.
The record contains no committee action or vote on the bill at this hearing; the bill will return later if the committee schedules additional action or a work session.
