By Mr. Swan of Springfield, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1737) of Benjamin Swan and others for legislation to prohibit tethering, leashing or the use of certain other restraints of prisoners participating in work release programs.  The Judiciary.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Benjamin Swan

Kay Khan

William Lantigua

Ruth B. Balser

Elizabeth A. Malia

Byron Rushing

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

Antonio F. D. Cabral

Alice Hanlon Peisch

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act prohibiting tethering, leashing, and other restraints of prisoners in work release programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.    Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the

following new section:—

Section 49C. No prisoner in the care and custody of the department of correction, nor

county corrections participating in any work or employment program outside the

institution to which he or she stands committed shall be subjected to any physical

“proactive restraints”, so-called, including, but not limited to, chains and other linkage or

tethering devices, stun guns, so-called, and any mechanisms which deliver a current of

electricity to the person.