(a) As soon as placement of an inmate in any reentry or work furlough program is planned, but in no case less than 60 days prior to that placement, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide notice, if notice has been requested, to all of the following: (1) written notice to the chief of police of the city, if any, in which the inmate will reside, if known, or in which placement will be made, (2) written notice to the sheriff of the county in which the inmate will reside, if known, or in which placement will be made, and (3) notice, as provided in subdivision (d), to the victim, if any, of the crime for which the inmate was convicted or the next of kin of the victim if the crime was a homicide, if the victim or the next of kin has submitted a request for notice with the department. Information regarding victims or next of kin requesting the notice, and the notice, shall be confidential and not available to the inmate.

(b) In the event of an escape of an inmate from any facility under the jurisdiction of the department, the department shall immediately notify, by the most reasonable and expedient means available, the chief of police of the city, and the sheriff of the county, in which the inmate resided immediately prior to the inmate’s arrest and conviction, and, if previously requested, to the victim, if any, of the crime for which the inmate was convicted, or to the next of kin of the victim if the crime was a homicide. If the inmate is recaptured, the department shall send written notice thereof to the chief of police and the sheriff, and notice to the victim, or next of kin of the victim, within 30 days after regaining custody of the inmate.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), the department shall send the notices required by this section to the last address provided to the department by the requesting party. It is the responsibility of the requesting party to provide the department with a current address.

(d) Whenever the department provides the notice required by this section to a victim, or next of kin of the victim, it shall do so by telephone, certified mail, or electronic mail, using the method of communication selected by the victim or the next of kin of the victim, if that method is available. In the event the victim’s or next of kin’s contact information provided to the department is no longer current, the department shall make a diligent, good faith effort to learn the whereabouts of the victim in order to comply with these notification requirements.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 364, Sec. 5. (SB 852) Effective September 29, 2011.)