Iowa Code
Chapter 216A - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 216A.133 - Purpose and duties.

216A.133 Purpose and duties.
1. The purpose of the board shall be all of the following:
a. Develop short-term and long-term goals to improve the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
b. Identify and analyze justice system issues.
c. Develop and assist others in implementing recommendations and plans for justice system improvement.
d. Provide the general assembly with an analysis of current and proposed criminal code provisions.
e. Provide for a clearinghouse of justice system information to coordinate with data resource agencies and assist others in the use of justice system data.
2. The board shall advise the division on its administration of state and federal grants and appropriations and shall carry out other functions consistent with this subchapter.
3. The duties of the board shall consist of the following:
a. Identifying issues and analyzing the operation and impact of present criminal and juvenile justice policy and making recommendations for policy changes.
b. Coordinating with data resource agencies to provide data and analytical information to federal, state, and local governments, and assisting agencies in the use of criminal and juvenile justice data.
c. Reporting criminal justice system needs to the governor, the general assembly, and other decision makers to improve the criminal justice system.
d. Reporting juvenile justice system needs to the governor, the general assembly, and other decision makers to address issues specifically affecting the juvenile justice system, including evidence-based programs for group foster care placements and the state training school, diversion, and community-based services for juvenile offenders.
e. Providing technical assistance upon request to state and local agencies.
f. Administering federal funds and funds appropriated by the state or that are otherwise available in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and other requirements for purposes of study, research, investigation, planning, and implementation in the areas of criminal and juvenile justice.
g. Making grants to cities, counties, and other entities pursuant to applicable law.
h. Maintaining an Iowa correctional policy project as provided in section 216A.137.
i. Providing input to the department director in the development of budget recommendations for the division.
j. Coordinating with the administrator to develop and make recommendations to the department director pursuant to section 216A.2.
k. Serving as a liaison between the division and the public, sharing information and gathering constituency input.
l. Recommending to the department the adoption of rules pursuant to chapter 17A as it deems necessary for the board and division.
m. Recommending legislative and executive action to the governor and general assembly.
n. Establishing advisory committees, work groups, or other coalitions as appropriate.
o. Providing the general assembly with an analysis and recommendations of current criminal code provisions and proposed legislation which include but are not limited to all of the following:
(1) Potential disparity in sentencing.
(2) Truth in sentencing.
(3) Victims.
(4) The proportionality of specific sentences.
(5) Sentencing procedures.
(6) Costs associated with the implementation of criminal code provisions, including costs to the judicial branch, department of corrections, and judicial district departments of correctional services, costs for representing indigent defendants, and costs incurred by political subdivisions of the state.
(7) Best practices related to the department of corrections including recidivism rates, safety and the efficient use of correctional staff, and compliance with correctional standards set by the federal government and other jurisdictions.
(8) Best practices related to the Iowa child death review team established in section 135.43 and the Iowa domestic abuse death review team established in section 135.109.
p. Studying and making recommendations for treating and supervising adult and juvenile sex offenders in institutions, community-based programs, and in the community, in areas which include but are not limited to all of the following:
(1) The effectiveness of electronically monitoring sex offenders.
(2) The cost and effectiveness of special sentences pursuant to chapter 903B.
(3) Risk assessment models created for sex offenders.
(4) Determining the best treatment programs available for sex offenders and the efforts of Iowa and other states to implement treatment programs.
(5) The efforts of Iowa and other states to prevent sex abuse-related crimes including child sex abuse.
(6) Any other related issues the board deems necessary, including but not limited to computer and internet sex-related crimes, sex offender case management, best practices for sex offender supervision, the sex offender registry, and the effectiveness of safety zones.
q. Providing expertise and advice to the legislative services agency, the department of corrections, the judicial branch, and others charged with formulating fiscal, correctional, or minority impact statements.
r. Reviewing data supplied by the division, the department of management, the legislative services agency, the Iowa supreme court, and other departments or agencies for the purpose of determining the effectiveness and efficiency of the collection of such data.
4. The board shall submit reports, in accordance with section 216A.135, to the governor and general assembly regarding actions taken, issues studied, and board recommendations.
88 Acts, ch 1277, §16
C89, §601K.133
90 Acts, ch 1124, §3; 92 Acts, ch 1231, §47
C93, §216A.133
2010 Acts, ch 1031, §145, 146, 170; 2010 Acts, ch 1193, §153, 154; 2019 Acts, ch 89, §9; 2019 Acts, ch 156, §5

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