Extension of Limits of Confinement for Humanitarian Reasons

(a) The Director of Corrections may extend the limits of the place of confinement of a prisoner entrusted to the Director’s custody, when there is reasonable cause to believe the prisoner will honor the Director’s trust, by authorizing the prisoner, under prescribed conditions, which shall include close supervision at all times by one (1) or more armed escorts, and twenty-four (24)-hour written notice to the Attorney General of Guam or the Chief Prosecutor, the Superior Court of Guam and the Guam Police Department, to visit a specifically designated place or places for a period not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours and return to the institution. An extension of limits may be granted only to permit a visit to a dying relative, attendance at the funeral of a relative, the obtaining of necessary medical services not otherwise available, or for any other equally compelling reason consistent with the public interest and safety. (b) An escape from supervision during an extension of limits period is punishable as a felony escape under Chapter 58 of Title 9 of the Guam Code Annotated. SOURCE: G.P.C. § 1234a. Amended by P.L. 25-087:1 (Nov. 23, 1999). CROSS-REFERENCES: Cal. Penal Code § 1208(d). COMMENT: The authority provided here is a narrow one limited to particular exceptional circumstances. It does not, however, restrict the much broader authority to provide regular programs involving partial confinement set forth in § 80.48. The court cannot participate under the circumstances provided by this Section. Therefore, the authority is given only to the Director of Corrections.