(a) Any private detention facility operator shall comply with, and adhere to, the detention standards of care and confinement agreed upon in the facility’s contract for operations.

(b) (1) “Detention facility” means any facility in which persons are incarcerated or otherwise involuntarily confined for purposes of execution of a punitive sentence imposed by a court or detention pending a trial hearing or other judicial or administrative proceeding. However, a “detention facility” does not include, and this section does not apply to, any of the following:

(A) Any facility providing rehabilitative, counseling, treatment, mental health, educational, or medical services to a juvenile that is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 100) of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(B) Any facility providing evaluation or treatment services to a person who has been detained, or is subject to an order of commitment by a court, pursuant to § 1026 of the Penal Code, or pursuant to Division 5 (commencing with Section 5000) or Division 6 (commencing with Section 6000) of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(C) Any facility providing educational, vocational, medical, or other ancillary services to an inmate in the custody of, and under the direct supervision of, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or a county sheriff or other law enforcement agency.

(D) A residential care facility licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 1200) of the Health and Safety Code.

(E) Any school facility used for the disciplinary detention of a pupil.

(F) Any facility used for the quarantine or isolation of persons for public health reasons pursuant to Division 105 (commencing with Section 120100) of the Health and Safety Code.

(G) Any facility used for the temporary detention of a person detained or arrested by a merchant, private security guard, or other private person pursuant to Section 490.5 or 837 of the Penal Code.

(2) “Private detention facility” means a detention facility that is operated by a private, nongovernmental, for-profit entity pursuant to a contract or agreement with a governmental entity.

(3) “Private detention facility operator” means any private person, corporation, or business entity that operates a private detention facility.

(4) “Detention standards of care and confinement” refers to any regulations, policies, or standards specified in the contract for services in the facility.

(5) “Tortious action” means any act or willful misconduct that violates a duty of care, as specified in § 1714 of the Civil Code.

(c) If a private detention facility operator, or agent of a private detention facility, or person acting on behalf of a detention facility operator, commits a tortious action which violates subdivision (a), an individual who has been injured by that tortious action may bring a civil action for relief. In civil actions brought pursuant to this section, the court, in its discretion, may award the prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, including expert witness fees.

(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 190, Sec. 2. (AB 3228) Effective January 1, 2021.)