HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2855        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1750

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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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.