Bill to ensure inmate care passed

Under a bill passed by a House committee Wednesday, the Utah Department of Corrections will either have to provide long-term care for inmates with terminal illnesses or, if they are sent to an outside care facility, ensure that the staff and residents of a care facility know that the patient is a paroled inmate.

The concern is that residents of the care facility, their family members, or staff members know when they are dealing with a paroled inmate, said Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake, who is sponsoring HB125. The bill was passed unanimously by the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee.

Currently, the Department of Corrections informs the director of outside care facilities if they are trying to send a terminally ill inmate for care. If that inmate is not deemed safe for release — the inmates will normally be paroled if they need to go to a facility — then the prison system will care for them, said executive director Scott Carver.

Carver said in either case, they want to ensure that inmate is properly cared for and anyone they interact with is safe. Being required to take the extra step and ensure that everyone who will work with the inmate or live in a care facility with that inmate is not a problem.