(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that state inmates nearing release from a contractor-operated correctional facility managed under chapter 957 are eligible for assistance under ss. 944.701-944.708, and all laws that provide for or mandate transition assistance services to inmates nearing release also apply to inmates who reside in contractor-operated correctional facilities. (2) To assist an inmate nearing release from a contractor-operated correctional facility, the department and the transition assistance specialist shall coordinate with a designated staff person at each contractor-operated correctional facility to ensure that a state inmate released from the contractor-operated correctional facility is informed of and provided with the same level of transition assistance services that are provided by the department for an inmate in a state correctional facility. Any inmate released from a contractor-operated correctional facility shall also have equal access to placement consideration in a contracted substance abuse transition housing program, including those programs that have a faith-based component.
