Ordered, that 11 members of the House of Representatives, 8 to be appointed by the Speaker and 3 by the Minority Leader, be authorized to make an investigation and study of women in the criminal justice system in the Commonwealth. In the course of its investigation, the committee shall study and report on the following and other related matters; the families of such women, mental health needs, case management services, education, training, parole, probation and recidivism issues. Also included in this study will be data collection, and reporting by the department, sheriffs, parole and probation on this cohort, the capacity of the department, sheriffs, parole and probation for self review, the frequency of such reviews and the departments responses to findings, the role of law enforcement, including sheriffs, police, parole and probation and the role of private providers, including social workers, therapists and medical personnel.

The committee shall report to the House of Representatives results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities on or before April 30, 2012.