Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 141240
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File Number: 141240 File Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Version: 0 Reference: R-773-14 Control: Board of County Commissioners
File Name: INFORMATION FROM INMATES RE US VETERAN STATUS Introduced: 5/28/2014
Requester: NONE Cost: Final Action: 9/3/2014
Agenda Date: 9/3/2014 Agenda Item Number: 11A2
Notes: Title: RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR DESIGNEE AND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO INCLUDE A FIELD ON ANY INMATE INTAKE FORMS TO REQUEST INFORMATION FROM INMATES REGARDING U.S. VETERAN STATUS; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO DEVELOP LITERATURE REGARDING BENEFITS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO INCARCERATED VETERANS; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO REPORT TO THE BOARD ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE POLICIES WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS RESOLUTION
Indexes: VETERANS
  INMATES
Sponsors: Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Prime Sponsor
  Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
  Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
Sunset Provision: No Effective Date: Expiration Date:
Registered Lobbyist: None Listed


Legislative History

Acting Body Date Agenda Item Action Sent To Due Date Returned Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners 9/3/2014 11A2 Adopted P

Public Safety & Animal Services Committee 7/9/2014 2A Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation P
REPORT: Assistant County Attorney Gerald Sanchez read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. There being no questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution, as presented.

County Attorney 5/28/2014 Assigned Miguel A. Gonzalez 5/28/2014

County Attorney 5/28/2014 Referred Public Safety & Animal Services Committee 7/9/2014

Legislative Text


TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR DESIGNEE AND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO INCLUDE A FIELD ON ANY INMATE INTAKE FORMS TO REQUEST INFORMATION FROM INMATES REGARDING U.S. VETERAN STATUS; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO DEVELOP LITERATURE REGARDING BENEFITS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO INCARCERATED VETERANS; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO REPORT TO THE BOARD ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE POLICIES WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS RESOLUTION

BODY


WHEREAS, surveys indicate that, across the Nation, approximately 700,000 U.S. veterans have been incarcerated in prisons and jails, which number constitutes nearly ten percent (10%) of the U.S. prison and jail population; and
WHEREAS, some of these inmate-veterans are in the custody of the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (the �Corrections Department�) in the various jails operated by the Corrections Department throughout Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, the County desires to identify inmate-veterans at the inmate intake phase to ensure that inmate-veterans are informed of all of the benefits and services available to incarcerated veterans under the applicable laws; and
WHEREAS, the County is aware that some inmate-veterans do not identify themselves as veterans for fear of losing, as a result of their incarceration, the benefits made available to veterans under the applicable laws; and
WHEREAS, to ensure that all eligible inmate-veterans, including those who do not self-identify as inmate-veterans, are made aware of the benefits and services available under applicable law, the Corrections Departments should develop literature to inform all inmates of the benefits and services available to inmate-veterans, which literature should dispel commonly held myths regarding the loss of veterans� benefits upon incarceration;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that
Section 1. The County Mayor or Designee and Corrections Department are hereby directed to create an inmate intake form that allows for the identification of inmate-veterans and to further develop procedures under which an inmate-veteran who did not self-identify as an inmate-veteran at the intake phase, can later identify as a veteran; and
Section 2. The County Mayor or Designee and Corrections Department are hereby directed to develop informational literature, to be distributed to all inmates, which literature should inform inmates of benefits available to incarcerated veterans under the applicable laws, and which literature should dispel commonly held myths or misinformation (e.g., myths regarding the loss of benefits upon incarceration and misinformation regarding who constitutes a �veteran� under applicable law) that discourage inmates from identifying themselves as veterans; and
Section 3. The County Mayor or Designee shall report to the Board, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this resolution, of the status of the County�s implementation of the policies established in this resolution.



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