Bill to allow escorted reentry leaves advances to committee discussion
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Summary
Senate Bill 5,873 would create a single escorted-leave category including reentry-focused supervised outings, funerals and bedside visits and aligns DOC family-definition rules; supporters said escorted leaves are evidence-based preparation for release while DOC flagged potential implementation costs.
Senate Bill 5,873, sponsored by Senator Claire Wilson, would consolidate escorted leaves of absence into a single statutory category and expand permitted reasons to include reentry and mentorship activities intended to prepare incarcerated individuals for community life.
Senator Claire Wilson told the committee the bill is intended to provide a "slow release" that helps people practice everyday tasks before full release, such as using public transit or grocery shopping, and to align statutory family definitions with DOC policy. "The goal of this bill is to help get individuals ready... for leaving a system of incarceration," Wilson said.
DOC's Danielle Armbruster testified in support, saying escorted reentry outings "help people do real practice real world interactions while still supported by DOC staff." She described research and programming that show stepped exposure reduces anxiety and increases reentry success and noted the department has begun implementing reentry pathways under earlier bills.
Kelsey Engstrom of AMEND at UCSF provided an evidence-based endorsement, noting that the Maine Department of Corrections and Norway's correctional services have longstanding practices of using escorted reentry leaves for prosocial skill-building and that several U.S. states are adopting similar approaches.
Committee staff said the bill's fiscal note had been requested and described potential indeterminate costs; committee members asked DOC about the fiscal consequences and about the definitions of "family" used for bedside and funeral leaves. DOC said implementation may require further resources depending on how the program is used and the extent of escorted outings.
Supporters at the hearing included public defense and reentry stakeholders who said escorted leaves can reduce recidivism by connecting people to mentorship, employment readiness and community resources before release. The committee closed public testimony and signaled further staff follow-up on fiscal and technical details.