Prisons.

Senator Menjivar's prison reform legislation introduces comprehensive changes to California's correctional system, establishing new protections for incarcerated individuals and strengthening staff oversight within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The bill grants incarcerated persons the right to request an advocate's presence during body cavity searches, strip searches, and body scans, while requiring detailed documentation of these procedures.

The legislation mandates new policies governing body-worn cameras, specifying when devices may be deactivated and requiring staff to document and explain any deactivations. Correctional officers must keep cameras active during interactions with incarcerated persons, with limited exceptions for restroom breaks, confidential meetings, and medical appointments.

The Department faces stricter hiring and promotion standards under the bill's provisions. The legislation prohibits the appointment of individuals who have engaged in sexual abuse in correctional settings or been convicted of serious offenses including murder, rape, and domestic violence. The Department must conduct criminal background checks every five years for current employees and contractors who interact with incarcerated persons.

Additional measures expand investigation procedures and accountability mechanisms. Internal affairs investigators must disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from cases involving personal relationships. The bill extends the grievance filing period from 60 to 120 days and authorizes incarcerated persons to submit anonymous sexual violence complaints directly to the Office of the Inspector General for review, regardless of prior institutional reporting.