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A07241 Summary:

A07241 Actions:

A07241 Floor Votes:

A07241 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
 submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)



 
BILL NUMBER: A7241A
 
SPONSOR: Weprin

 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the correction law, in relation to the
establishment of an inmate visitation program
 
 
PURPOSE:
 
To establish the inmate visiting program in state and local correctional
facilities
 
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
 
Section 1 adds a new section 138-b to the correction law establishing a
section authorizing inmate visits.
 
Section 2 provides an effective date.
 
 
JUSTIFICATION:
 
Research has shown that inmates who receive visits from family, friends
and volunteers are significantly less likely to recidivate than inmates
who do not receive visits. DOCCS has long allowed visitation in its
facilities, although nothing in law requires them to do so. The benefits
of an inmate visitation program include but are not limited to: provid-
ing jobs for correctional staff, incentivizing program participation,
increasing inmate morale and facility safety, and facilitating reentry
through the preservation of family bonds.
 
This bill ensures that video visitation may not take the place of
in-person visitation. The goal of the visitation program is to provide
institutional safety, inmate rehabilitation and public safety. This
legislation also calls for a policy to be created to facilitate visita-
tions during high peak times.
 
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
None.
 
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
NOne.
 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one hundred and twenty days after it shall
have become law.

A07241 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         7241--A
                                                                Cal. No. 506
 
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                     April 12, 2017
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A. WEPRIN, SEPULVEDA, WALKER, DE LA ROSA, BLAKE,
          MOSLEY -- read once and referred to the  Committee  on  Correction  --
          ordered  to  a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining
          its place on the order of third reading

        AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to the establishment  of
          an inmate visitation program
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 138-b
     2  to read as follows:
     3    § 138-b. Inmate  visitation  program.  State  and  local  correctional
     4  facilities  shall  provide inmate visitation programs which give inmates
     5  opportunities for personal  contact  with  relatives,  friends,  clergy,
     6  volunteers  and other persons to promote better institutional adjustment
     7  and  better  community  adjustment  upon  release.  Such  program  shall
     8  include,  but  not be limited to, (a) visiting hours that are reasonably
     9  likely to accommodate persons  traveling  from  within  the  state,  (b)
    10  visits  of sufficient duration so that visitors and inmates will be able
    11  to maintain relationship bonds, and (c) a published overcrowding  policy
    12  that is equitable with due consideration to the distance traveled by the
    13  visitor.  Video  visitation may supplement, but shall not take the place
    14  of, in-person visitation. No inmate is to be visited against his or  her
    15  will by any person.
    16    § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
    17  it shall have become a law.
 
 
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10877-04-8