# § 12242. Definitions
In this part—
“child” means a person who is less than 7 years of age.
“community correctional facility” means a residential facility that—
(A) is used only for eligible offenders and their children under 7 years of age;
(B) is not within the confines of a jail or prison;
(C) houses no more than 50 prisoners in addition to their children; and
(D) provides to inmates and their children—
(i) a safe, stable, environment for children;
(ii) pediatric and adult medical care consistent with medical standards for correctional facilities;
(iii) programs to improve the stability of the parent-child relationship, including educating parents regarding—
(I) child development; and
(II) household management;
(iv) alcoholism and drug addiction treatment for prisoners; and
(v) programs and support services to help inmates—
(I) to improve and maintain mental and physical health, including access to counseling;
(II) to obtain adequate housing upon release from State incarceration;
(III) to obtain suitable education, employment, or training for employment; and
(IV) to obtain suitable child care.
“eligible offender” means a primary caretaker parent who—
(A) has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 7 years or is awaiting sentencing for a conviction punishable by such a term of imprisonment; and
(B) has not engaged in conduct that—
(i) knowingly resulted in death or serious bodily injury;
(ii) is a felony for a crime of violence against a person; or
(iii) constitutes child neglect or mental, physical, or sexual abuse of a child.
“primary caretaker parent” means—
(A) a parent who has consistently assumed responsibility for the housing, health, and safety of a child prior to incarceration; or
(B) a woman who has given birth to a child after or while awaiting her sentencing hearing and who expresses a willingness to assume responsibility for the housing, health, and safety of that child,
a parent who, in the best interest of a child, has arranged for the temporary care of the child in the home of a relative or other responsible adult shall not for that reason be excluded from the category “primary caretaker”.
“State” means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 103–322, title III, § 31903, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1893.)
## Editorial Notes
### Codification
Section was formerly classified to , The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.