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A04851 Summary:

BILL NOA04851
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORPalmesano
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd 112, Cor L
 
Establishes a contraband screening plan which includes a canine at the entrance of each correctional facility to detect the presence of illegal drugs.
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A04851 Actions:

BILL NOA04851
 
02/23/2023referred to correction
01/03/2024referred to correction
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A04851 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4851
 
SPONSOR: Palmesano
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the correction law, in relation to establishing a contraband screening plan which includes a canine at the entrance of each correctional facility   PURPOSE: This bill would require the Commission of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to establish a contraband screening plan in correctional facilities that includes the use of a leashed and controlled canine at the entrance of each correctional facility   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1: Section 112 of the Correction Law is amended to increase security and restrict contraband from entering the correction facility. It would require the Commissioner of (DOCCS) to establish a contraband screening plan in prisons. The plan would include, but not be limited to the use of a controlled canine at the entrance of each correctional facility. Section 2: Provides an immediate effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: Contraband, whether drugs, weapons, drones, cash, or any other item smuggled into our prisons puts everyone at risk and often leads to fights among inmates and violent attacks on officers and staff Recently, there have been multiple incidents involving attacks on correction offi- cers and inmates as a result of this. Data collected indicates that 2017 marked the most violent year inside, state prisons since 2007, which is the year statistics began being recorded. In 2020, there were 3,952 incidences of contraband compared to 2,452 in 2011(61% increase). Furthermore, assaults on staff statewide have risen from 563 incidents in 2011 to 1,053 in 2020(86% increase). When looking at statistics, every metric tracked by DOCCS rose above the previous year's numbers. These alarming statistics and the several inci- dents-over the past few years underscore the critical need for changes to current protocols set forth by DOCCS. In May 2017, after a large fight, officers found a drone, synthetic marijuana, a drug that is also known as "spice" or "spike" and multiple weapons inside Auburn Correc- tional Facility. In an attack at Five Points Correctional Facility in Seneca County, a half dozen officers were injured during several alter- cations with inmates inside a cell block. A black ceramic scalpel was found during a search and taken as evidence. The Elmira Correctional Facility has gone on lockdown on multiple occasions. A woman tried to bring drugs to her brother, who is an inmate: at the Franklin Correc- tional Facility in Malone, New York. Police say a K-9 smelled the drugs in her purse. They say synthetic marijuana, known as K2, and Suboxone were both found. She was charged with promoting prison contraband. At Orleans Correctional Facility, an inmate was saved after overdosing on heroin. An investigation led to the discovery of 24 packets of heroin in one of the dorms. There are countless stories of failed drug tests among inmates. One particular set of parents who have a son in a correctional facility discussed how he cannot end his drug addiction because he has constant access to drugs. Procedures and policies must be updated to end this dire situation. Increasing contraband screening of visitors to these facilities is a good step to ensure drugs or objects that can be used as weapons do not enter the institutions making them safer environments for both officers and inmates.   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Undetermined.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
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A04851 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          4851
 
                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 23, 2023
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  PALMESANO  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Correction
 
        AN ACT to amend the  correction  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  a
          contraband  screening  plan which includes a canine at the entrance of
          each correctional facility

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  Section  112 of the correction law is amended by adding a
     2  new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
     3    6. The commissioner shall establish a contraband screening plan  which
     4  shall  include  the  use  of  a leashed and controlled canine trained to
     5  detect illegal drugs at the entrance of each correctional facility.
     6    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD08496-01-3
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