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A08364 Summary:

BILL NOA08364
 
SAME ASSAME AS S07772
 
SPONSORForrest
 
COSPNSRBurdick, Gallagher, Mamdani, Shrestha, Mitaynes, Epstein, Gonzalez-Rojas, Levenberg, Bichotte Hermelyn, Simon, Davila, Tapia, Cruz, Kelles
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd §§2 & 137, Cor L
 
Protects the rights of people in prisons, jails and forensic facilities; limits the use of cell or segregated confinement; grants access to tablets, visitation, and certain items.
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A08364 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A8364
 
SPONSOR: Forrest
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the correction law, in relation to the rights of people in prisons, jails, and forensic facilities   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill aims to accomplish two goals: (1) to clearly place the rights of, incarcerated people and their families in New York within the frame- work and protections of international human rights law and norms, and (2) to correct, clarify, and establish certain specific protections relating to how incarcerated individuals and their families are treated within New York's prisons, jails, and secure forensic facilities, including relating to visitation, use of segregated confinement, •clUe process rights, packages, and other matters.   SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 states the name by which the bill shall be known, which is the "Rights Behind Bars; Protecting the Rights of People in Prisons, Jails, and Forensic Facilities, and Their Loved Ones, in New York State Act.". Section 2 sets forth, in five parts, the legislative findings and intent: PART A recognizes the systematic lack of human rights protections for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones in New York, and the necessity for the legislature to clarify rights that exist under New York law but are not consistently followed, to close gaps in existing law, and to enshrine into New York law well-established princi- ples and obligations under international human rights law. PART B cites a sampling of relevant studies, reports, and legal deci- sions which support the need for this legislation. PART C cites relevant provisions of the New York and U.S. consti- tutions, as well as key portions of international human rights law docu- ments relating to the rights of incarcerated people, including the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the United Nations Standing Mini- mum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules.) PART D focuses on particular sections of the Mandela Rules which provide guidance as to the treatment of people who are incarcerated, including, Rule 3 (prohibiting, generally, actions which "aggravate the suffering inherent" in cutting people off from the outside world and depriving them of their liberty), Rule 4 (requiring that incarceration be used to "ensure the reintegration   of incarcerated persons into society upon release"), Rule 5 (requiring carceral facilities to "minimize any differences between prison life and life at liberty that tend to lesson .. the respect due to their dignity as human beings"), Rule 58.1 requir- ing that people be allowed regular communication with family and friends, Rule 22 requiring the rights of people in prison to nutritious and wholesome food, and Rule 82 prohibiting any use of force against an incarcerated person that is not strictly necessary." PART E notes specific areas which have arisen in recent years in New York correctional facilities, including systemic violations of the HALT Solitary Confinement Law, improper and unjustified restrictions on pack- ages, visits, and mail, staff abuse and brutality, and other issues, and states the intent of the legislation, namely, to clarify and enforce the human rights of incarcerated individuals in New York. Section 3 amends correction law section 2 by the addition of eleven paragraphs which define the following terms: "contact visit", "visitor", "cell", "cell confinement", "out-of-cell", "congregate recreation", "core programs", "represented", "personal property", "secure facility", and "incarcerated individual." Section 4 amends correction law section 2 (23) through the addition of three paragraphs: (a) allows cell confinement beyond seventeen hours per day for medical or mental health treatment only with determination that such confinement is medically necessary, b) renders any such confinement null if not medically necessary and if the environment is not as least restrictive as appropriate, and (c) sets forth items and activities incarcerated to which persons in such medically necessary confinement must have access. Section 5 amends correction law section 2 (33) related to the phrase "special populations" to make clear via examples what is already required under settled law per the HALT Solitary Confinement Law that all people with mental health diagnosis, on the mental health caseload, with any intellectual, developmental, or cognitive impairment, with traumatic brain injury or organic brain syndrome, who have been on the mental health case-load or had a mental health diagnosis within the previous year, or who have had a diagnosis of intellectual, develop- mental, cognitive, physical, or sensorial disability with the previous year are protected. In addition, this section clarifies and extends the prohibition of imposing segregated confinement on individuals who are pregnant or in the post-partum recovery period or are caring for a child. Section 6 amends correction law section 137 (3) by requiring incarcerat- ed individuals be provided: weather appropriate clothing, sufficient quality of a variety of fresh food to meet Department of Health guide- lines, adequate mealtimes, and applicable wheelchair assistance. Section 7 amends correction law section 137 (5) by barring any use of force by staff against an incarcerated person except as a last resort after exhausting de-escalation techniques and where no alternatives exist to prevent imminent physical harm to another person, major proper- ty damage that raises an imminent safety or security risk, or escape. Even when authorized, staff shall only use the minimum amount of force required. This section also specifically bans the use of steel batons, prohibits retaliation, forbids staff from providing any false informa- tion in any official report, and makes all staff mandatory reporters of any observed misconduct by other staff. Section 8 amends correction law section 137 (6) law by the addition of sever. paragraphs: (p) outlines visitation rights; including allowance for four in-person visitors every day for at least several hours per incarcerated individ- ual, access to showers prior to a visit, and related visitor rights. q) allows incarcerated individuals to receive packages in a timely manner, by mail or visitors, and eliminates any requirement that pack- ages be from or delivered by vendors. (r) emphasizes HAIT's requirement of out-of-cell time and group program- ming by providing all incarcerated persons, apart from those in segre- gated confinement, access to at least fourteen hours of out-of-cell time per day, congregate programming and activities, and recreation. (s) requires that any correspondence incarcerated individuals receive must be delivered in its original form. (t) gives all incarcerated individuals access to anything technological- ly available, including use of personal tablets or devices, and free use of functions within that device to increase general connections and accessibility. This provision also requires that all personal phone calls and e-mails be free. (u) ensures commissaries are financially accessible and contain nutri- tious options. (v) permits incarcerated individuals to bring state court actions for any violations of this section. Section 9 amends correction law section 137 (6)(j)(ii) by adding two new clauses: (A) clarifying that time spent in certain locations does not 'constitute "out-of-cell" time, such as a "recreation area' contiguous to a cell, and (B) requiring that if a person voluntarily chooses not to participate in congregate out-of-cell time, they shall be offered access to comparable individual programming, recreation, and individual time away from their cells. Section 10 amends correction law 137 (6)(j)(v) by requiring that indi- viduals in residential rehabilitation units have access to the same programs available to the general population. Section 11 amends correction law section 137 (6)(j)(vii) prohibiting the use of restraints when indiViduals are participating in out-of-cell activities unless an individualized assessment is made at the time of or immediately following an incident that the use of restraints are required for the individual due to an imminent risk of serious physical injury to self or others. The assessment must be memorialized in writ- ing. A new subsection A requires the use of the least restrictive restraint possible for no more than the necessary amount of time. A new subsection B limits the use of restraints to the day applied unless a determination based on concrete evidence finds the contrary necessary. A new subsection C provides limits and regulations to continued use of restraints. Section 12 amends correction law section 137(6)(k) by the addition of three new subparagraphs: (v) sets specific limits to segregated confinement and residential reha- bilitation unit times, regardless of the number of charges associated with the incident at hand. (vi) requires that any imposition of a disciplinary sanction must be based on a finding of guilt of the charged act or acts by clear and convincing evidence. (vii) requires hearing officers to engage in a meaningful fact-finding process, with detailed statements of evidence and reasons why the incar- cerated individual's evidence or defense was credited or rejected. Section 13 amends correction law section 137 (6)(1) by the addition of five new subparagraphs: (i) provides for notice of the rights to representation for persons' facing placement in segregated confinement or an RRU. (ii) requires people incarcerated and their representation, if applica- ble, to be provided all evidence relating to their charge and/or hearing as quickly as possible and no later than forty-eight hours prior to said hearing. (iii) lists the rights incarcerated people and their representatives, if applicable, have during hearings. (iv) requires a recording of all disciplinary hearings, and for such to be provided to the incarcerated person and their representative, if applicable. (v) allows for time spent in segregated confinement or a residential rehabilitation unit preceding a hearing to be credited as either the sanction imposed or as good time behavior allowance time, contingent on the outcome. Section 14 amends correction law section 137 (6)(o) by establishing the information that must be included in published monthly reports from the department. The amendment also outlines a detailed list of data and factors which must be included in said reports. Section 15 contains a severability clause. Section 16 provides that the provisions of this act shall take effect thirty days after becoming law.   JUSTIFICATION: This "Rights Behind Bars" bill was developed by the sponsors in close collaboration with experts in the functioning of New York's jails and prisons, including legal experts, formerly incarcerated individuals, families of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals, currently incarcerated individuals, and advocacy organizations focused on the rights of people behind bars in New York State. In addition, the Senate sponsor, who is the Chair of the Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, has a significant amount of direct contact with incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people and their families and loved ones, based on numerous in-person visits to correctional facili- ties throughout the State and, further, based on the high level of tele- phone calls and letters the Senator's office receives from incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals or their families. All of this input led inescapably to two conclusions relating to the rights of people behind bars: (1) there are numerous important issues where the law of New York State is either not as clear as it could be or is not being implemented properly, to the detriment of people who are most directly impacted by incarceration, and (2) a more comprehensive vision, framework, and approach is needed in this State to ensure that the rights of people behind bars are protected. This bill, therefore, addresses, clarifies, and corrects numerous specific issues in New York - e.g., visitation rights, mail and package access, programming, excessive and unjustified uses of force by staff, misuse of segregated confinement, due process rights, food and meals, and more. In addition, in order to provide the appropriate overall framework for understanding and protecting the rights of people behind bars in New York, this bill also places these rights within a comprehen- sive framework established by international human rights law: This bill is both pragmatic in addressing a number of specific issues that frequently arise in New York's jails and prisons and is visionary in emphasizing the human rights of those behind bars and recognizing that New York is significantly out-of-compliance with accepted norms and rules 0.f international human rights law as applicable to people held in custody. The enactment of this bill is essential. All New Yorkers have a right to expect that people held in custody are treated fairly, as human beings, and are not subjected to brutality, racism, denials of rights, interferences with visits or other forms of contact with the outside world, and are provided meaningful access to the programs and educational resources needed in order to return to their communities safely. In addition, New Yorkers should be, and are, shocked by the huge amounts of money the State is ordered to pay out in settlements and court verdicts in cases relating, among other things, to brutality from correctional staff. As this bill was being finalized for filing, for example, word came of a $9.25 million verdict against the New York pris- on system in a case of a man killed by the use by correctional staff of unnecessary and excessive force in one of the State's prisons. This court verdict is not unique, though it is large. The sponsors submit that if this bill were enacted, it would go a long way towards improving conditions within New York's jails and prisons, would result in significantly reduced violence, would make a huge difference in the preparation of individuals for successful re-entry to the community, and would improve family ties and relationships. All of this would have an impact on enhancing the human rights and human digni- ty of all. It would also result in significant cost savings for the State.   RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The long-standing racial disparities in New York's jails and prison systems are well-documented. The significant over-representation of people of color in New York's jails and prisons means, regardless of any other factors, that people of color are disproportionately subjected to violations of their basic human rights. When the actual and overt racism experienced by many people in jail and prison is also taken into account, it is clear that the continued failure of New York State to properly protect the safety, dignity, and human rights of incarcerated people is a major crisis with deep racial components. The enactment of this bill, with its corrections and clarifications of many specific issues as well as its placement of these issues within the larger framework of international human rights law, would have a signif- icant impact on reducing the racism experienced by so many in the jails and priscns of this state.   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined. Implementation of these amendments will decrease instances of human rights violations, thereby significantly reducing litigation and judgments against the state. In addition, by reducing the trauma commonly experienced by people who are incarcerated, this bill will further save the state and localities money by significantly reduc- ing recidivism.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become law.
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A08364 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          8364
 
                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    December 13, 2023
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. FORREST, BURDICK, GALLAGHER, MAMDANI, SHRESTHA --
          read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
 
        AN  ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to the rights of people
          in prisons, jails, and forensic facilities
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
     2  the "rights behind bars; protecting the rights  of  people  in  prisons,
     3  jails,  and forensic facilities, and their loved ones, in New York state
     4  act".
     5    § 2. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature hereby finds and
     6  declares:
     7    A. Incarcerated individuals, their families, and loved ones have human
     8  rights.  The legislature finds that New York's prisons and jails system-
     9  atically fail to recognize and protect the human rights of  incarcerated
    10  individuals,  their  families, and their loved ones. While some of these
    11  rights are protected by the law and constitution of New York State,  and
    12  the  law  and  constitution  of the United States, it is well-documented
    13  that the rights protected under existing law are often not recognized in
    14  practice and that there are gaps in existing law.   The intent  of  this
    15  act  is  to:  (i) make clear some of the rights that already exist under
    16  New York law but are not being consistently followed, (ii) close some of
    17  the gaps in existing law, and (iii) enshrine into  New  York  State  law
    18  some  of  the well-established principles and obligations under interna-
    19  tional human rights law.
    20    B. Numerous recent studies, reports, and court  decisions  have  docu-
    21  mented  systemic,  widespread, and persistent human rights violations in
    22  New York's correctional facilities. These include: NYS Inspector General
    23  Lucy Lang, Racial Disparities in the Administration of Discipline in New
    24  York State Prisons, November 2022; Neff, Santo, and Meagher, How A 'Blue
    25  Wall' Inside New York State Prisons Protects Abusive Guards,  The  Mars-

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13213-04-3

        A. 8364                             2
 
     1  hall  Project  in  partnership  with the New York Times, May 2023; Neff,
     2  Santo, and Meagher, In New York Prisons Guards Who  Brutalize  Prisoners
     3  Rarely  Get Fired, The Marshall Project in partnership with the New York
     4  Times,  May  2023;  Law,  V., The Worst Prison in New York State, Prison
     5  Legal News, March 2022; Gelardi and Brown, State Prisons  Are  Routinely
     6  Violating  New York's Landmark Solitary Confinement Law, New York Focus,
     7  September 2022; Bryant, 19 People Have Died From NYC Jails in 2022,  The
     8  Vera  Project, December 2022; Weill-Greenberg, Disabled and Abandoned in
     9  New York State Prisons, The Nation, October 2021; Marcius,  Hundreds  of
    10  Women Set to Sue New York Over Allegations of Prison Sex Abuse, New York
    11  Times,  November 2022; Monitor's Reports in Nunez, et al. v. NYC Depart-
    12  ment of Correction, et al., 11-cv-05845 (LTS) (SDNY)  (multiple  reports
    13  issued  by  Court-appointed Monitor as part of the settlement of a class
    14  action lawsuit relating to conditions in NYC  jails  on  Rikers  Island,
    15  starting in 2016 and continuing to the present); and Post-Visit Briefing
    16  Reports  issued periodically by the Correctional Association of New York
    17  ("CANY") pursuant to their statutory  authority  to  conduct  monitoring
    18  visits  in  NYS  prisons  (Nine Post-Visit Briefings were issued by CANY
    19  from June 2021 through December 2022. Among  the  findings  during  this
    20  period  were  that  45% of incarcerated individuals interviewed reported
    21  witnessing or experiencing verbal, physical, or sexual abuse  by  prison
    22  staff,  and  36% reported witnessing or experiencing racialized abuse by
    23  prison staff.).
    24    C. Some of the human rights of incarcerated individuals  in  New  York
    25  State  are  protected  by provisions in the New York State Constitution,
    26  including, Article I, sections 5 (prohibiting cruel and unusual  punish-
    27  ment),  6 (right to due process), 8 (right to speak freely), 11 (guaran-
    28  teeing equal protection of the laws), and 12  (prohibiting  unreasonable
    29  searches  and  seizures);  the United States Constitution, including the
    30  1st Amendment (free speech), 4th Amendment (prohibition of  unreasonable
    31  searches  and seizures), 8th Amendment (prohibition of cruel and unusual
    32  punishments), and 14th Amendment (guaranteeing equal protection  of  the
    33  law  and due process of law).  However, these provisions and laws do not
    34  go far enough to protect the rights of people incarcerated in New  York.
    35  The  intent  of  this  act, in part, is to incorporate into New York law
    36  additional human rights protections for incarcerated people as enshrined
    37  in key documents included in the body of international human rights law,
    38  including, the United Nations Declaration of Human  Rights,  recognizing
    39  basic  human  rights  applicable to all people, including, in Article 5,
    40  the right not to be subjected  to  torture  or  to  cruel,  inhuman,  or
    41  degrading  treatment  or punishment; the International Covenant of Civil
    42  and Political Rights, including Article 7 (No one shall be subjected  to
    43  torture  or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment), and
    44  Article 10 (All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated  with
    45  humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person);
    46  the  Basic  Principles  for the Treatment of Prisoners (General Assembly
    47  Resolution 45/111); the Convention  Against  Torture  and  Other  Cruel,
    48  Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the United Nations Stand-
    49  ard  Minimum  Rules  for  the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela
    50  Rules); and other applicable and  binding  principles  of  international
    51  human rights law.
    52    D.  The  fundamental approach of international human rights law to the
    53  treatment of people in prison is expressed in  Rule  3  of  the  Mandela
    54  Rules,  which  recognizes  that  "imprisonment  and  other measures that
    55  result in cutting off persons from the outside world are  afflictive  by
    56  the  very fact of taking from these persons the right of self-determina-

        A. 8364                             3
 
     1  tion by depriving them of their liberty.  Therefore  the  prison  system
     2  shall not, except as incidental to justifiable separation or the mainte-
     3  nance  of  discipline,  aggravate the suffering inherent in such a situ-
     4  ation."  In  turn,  Rule  4  requires that incarceration must be used to
     5  "ensure the reintegration of such persons into society upon  release  so
     6  that  they  can  lead a law-abiding and self-supporting life" and Rule 5
     7  thus requires prisons and jails to  "minimize  any  differences  between
     8  prison  life  and life at liberty that tend to lessen the responsibility
     9  of the {incarcerated people} or the respect  due  to  their  dignity  as
    10  human beings."
    11    To  effectuate  these  rights,  the Mandela Rules require, among other
    12  protections, that incarcerated people be allowed  regular  communication
    13  with  their  family  and  friends,  including through visits and through
    14  writing, telecommunication, electronic means, and  digital  means  (Rule
    15  58.1),  that people in prison have a right to "food of nutritional value
    16  adequate for health and strength, of wholesome quality and well prepared
    17  and served", and that any use of force against an incarcerated  individ-
    18  ual  be "no more than is strictly necessary" (Rule 82). They also estab-
    19  lish basic rights  related  to  access  to  programming  and  treatment,
    20  connections  to  community  entities,  and  restrictions  on  the use of
    21  restraints.
    22    E. In keeping with these legislative findings, this act aims to clear-
    23  ly recognize  and  establish  the  broad  human  rights  framework  that
    24  protects  all  incarcerated  individuals  in  New  York  State. This act
    25  specifically addresses certain issues that have arisen in New York pris-
    26  ons and jails in recent years.   That has included:  violations  of  the
    27  HALT  Solitary  Confinement  Law;  restrictions on packages, visits, and
    28  mail; staff abuse and brutality; and denials of other basic rights.
    29    In regard to some of these issues, the law is already clear,  but  New
    30  York's prisons and jails are not consistently following it. For example,
    31  despite  clarity  concerning  who  qualifies  as disabled under the HALT
    32  Solitary Confinement Law, and who, therefore, cannot be placed in segre-
    33  gated confinement, the  NYS  Department  of  Corrections  and  Community
    34  Supervision  has  consistently placed people with disabilities in segre-
    35  gated confinement. The intent of the  amendments  to  paragraph  (c)  of
    36  subdivision  33  of section 2 of the correction law made by section five
    37  of this act is not to define disability, which is already  in  the  law,
    38  but rather to make clear via examples what is already required. Similar-
    39  ly,  while the correction law is already clear that people facing possi-
    40  ble placement in segregated confinement or facing Tier III tickets  must
    41  have access to meaningful representation, including by any lawyer or law
    42  student;  that  hearing officers must conduct individualized assessments
    43  of the fact to determine if the allegations meet the threshold  require-
    44  ments  for placement in segregated confinement or alternatives; and that
    45  people in alternative disciplinary units must have access to out-of-cell
    46  time in group settings, access to core programs available in the general
    47  population; and a presumption against the use of  restraints  unless  an
    48  individualized determination is made finding a significant and unreason-
    49  able risk, prisons and jails are not complying with these provisions and
    50  so this act reiterates and clarifies these requirements.
    51    This  act  is not intended as an all-inclusive compendium of the human
    52  rights protections afforded to people in jail or prison  under  interna-
    53  tional  law,  as  the  intent is to correct and clarify certain specific
    54  rights  within  the  overall  human  rights   framework.   Among   other
    55  protections,  this  act aims to ensure that people have a right to visit
    56  with their loved ones, to have regular communication  with  their  loved

        A. 8364                             4
 
     1  ones,  to receive care packages from their loved ones, to have access to
     2  healthy and nutritious food, to be free from staff brutality and retali-
     3  ation, to be free from the torture of  prolonged  solitary  confinement,
     4  and  to have access to real and meaningful out-of-cell group programming
     5  and engagement. Recognition of these basic human rights  will  alleviate
     6  suffering of incarcerated individuals, strengthen ties with families and
     7  communities, better prepare people for release, increase safety in pris-
     8  ons and jails and in outside communities, and unequivocally establish as
     9  the  policy  of  the  State  of  New York that brutality, racism, sexual
    10  abuse, harassment, and denials of access to family and loved  ones  have
    11  no place in New York's jails and prisons and will not be tolerated.
    12    §  3.  Section 2 of the correction law is amended by adding eleven new
    13  subdivisions 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45  to  read  as
    14  follows:
    15    35.  "Contact  visit" means a visit between an incarcerated individual
    16  and one or more visitors in a visiting room or equivalent space in which
    17  the incarcerated individual and their visitor  are  in  the  same  unob-
    18  structed  space  as  each  other  without  physical barriers between the
    19  incarcerated individual and their visitor or visitors, that is conducive
    20  to meaningful social interaction and activity, and with the  ability  to
    21  interact  freely  with  their  visitor, including but not limited to the
    22  ability to communicate freely, hold hands, hug, kiss, have other  appro-
    23  priate  physical  contact,  purchase  and share food and drinks from the
    24  vending machine, and take photographs together.
    25    36. "Visitor" means any individual who comes to visit a person  incar-
    26  cerated  in  a  correctional facility or secure facility, including, but
    27  not limited to, a family member, friend, advocate, or loved one.
    28    37. "Cell" means any room, area or space that is used or  is  intended
    29  to  be  used  by  an incarcerated individual for sleep, or that is not a
    30  shared space conducive to meaningful congregate social interaction among
    31  many people in a group setting where  an  individual  is  held  for  any
    32  purpose.
    33    38. "Cell confinement" means being in a cell.
    34    39.  "Out-of-cell"  means  being in a space outside of, and in an area
    35  away from, a cell, in a group setting with other people all in the  same
    36  shared  space without physical barriers between people that is conducive
    37  to meaningful and congregate social interaction and activity.
    38    40. "Congregate recreation" means out-of-cell recreation  in  a  group
    39  setting  with other people all in the same shared space that takes place
    40  outside, weather permitting, in an open  yard  without  being  caged  or
    41  covered,  and when weather does not permit or when an incarcerated indi-
    42  vidual so chooses, in a non-caged gymnasium or equivalent.
    43    41. "Core programs" means any and all programs that can be assigned by
    44  a  department  program  committee,  any  and  all  required   department
    45  programs,  and  any and all programs that are considered for purposes of
    46  good time, merit time, other time allowance, parole  release,  or  other
    47  release  mechanisms. Core programs shall include, but not be limited to,
    48  academic classes, vocational programs,  transitional  services,  alcohol
    49  and  substance  abuse  treatment,  aggression  replacement training, sex
    50  offense counseling and treatment, and any  other  assigned  or  required
    51  programs.
    52    42.  "Represented" means an incarcerated individual having an attorney
    53  (licensed in any jurisdiction of the United States),  law  student  with
    54  supervision by any attorney regardless of whether the attorney is affil-
    55  iated  with  a  law  school, paralegal, or other incarcerated individual
    56  provide representation at any and all stages of a  hearing  and  appeal,

        A. 8364                             5
 
     1  including  but  not limited to opening and closing statements, presenta-
     2  tion of evidence, calling  and  questioning  witnesses,  cross-examining
     3  witnesses,  reading of the disposition, sentencing, and appeal, with the
     4  choice by the incarcerated individual and their representative of either
     5  having  the  representative  physically present at any and all stages of
     6  the hearing in the same room and/or participating  through  videoconfer-
     7  ence.
     8    43.  "Personal  property"  means  any  and  all property that has been
     9  lawfully in the possession of an incarcerated individual, including  but
    10  not  limited  to,  for the purposes of state correctional facilities all
    11  items listed in department directive forty-nine hundred thirteen  as  of
    12  June  fourteenth,  two  thousand  twenty-two  and  for purposes of local
    13  correctional facilities and secure facilities all items permitted  under
    14  applicable  rules and regulations to each facility as of October twenti-
    15  eth, two thousand  twenty-three.  If  a  person  has  a  static  tablet,
    16  personal  property includes a static tablet and the person shall be able
    17  to use that tablet, in addition to any other  tablet,  for  purposes  of
    18  making phone calls, emails, and other uses. If a person is at a facility
    19  that   allows   televisions,  personal  property  includes  televisions.
    20  Personal property shall also  include  typewriters,  assistive  devices,
    21  approved  electronic devices, books-on-tape players, and any other prop-
    22  erty  that  an  incarcerated  individual  has  lawfully  had  in   their
    23  possession.
    24    44. "Secure facility" means (a) all forensic mental health facilities,
    25  including those that hold people pursuant to section 330.20 or 730.50 of
    26  the  criminal  procedure  law or 14 NYCRR Part 57, and including but not
    27  limited to the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric  Center,  Kirby  Forensic
    28  Psychiatric  Center,  Rochester  Regional  Forensic  Unit, and Northeast
    29  Regional Forensic Unit; (b) all secure treatment facilities, as  defined
    30  in subdivision (o) of section 10.03 of the mental hygiene law, including
    31  but  not  limited  to  the  Central  New York Psychiatric Center and St.
    32  Lawrence Psychiatric Center; and (c) all secure mental health facilities
    33  holding people pursuant to section four  hundred  two  or  five  hundred
    34  eight of this chapter.
    35    45.  "Incarcerated individual" means any person confined in a state or
    36  local correctional facility or secure facility.
    37    § 4. Subdivision 23 of section 2 of the correction law is  amended  by
    38  adding three new paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) to read as follows:
    39    (a)  A  person may only be placed in cell confinement beyond seventeen
    40  hours a day for purposes of medical or  mental  health  treatment  if  a
    41  licensed  medical  professional  determines  that  the  cell confinement
    42  itself is medically necessary to carry out the medical or mental  health
    43  treatment,  such as for purposes of suicide watch, medical isolation, or
    44  medical quarantine. Such determination shall be  documented  in  writing
    45  and  shall  be  reviewed  and reauthorized by a licensed medical profes-
    46  sional at least once every forty-eight hours.
    47    (b) A person may only be held in such confinement  pursuant  to  para-
    48  graph  (a) of this subdivision for as limited a time as medically neces-
    49  sary, as exclusively determined by medical or mental health  staff,  and
    50  in  the  least restrictive environment that is medically appropriate, as
    51  determined exclusively by medical or mental health staff.
    52    (c) Cell confinement pursuant to paragraph  (a)  of  this  subdivision
    53  shall  be  in an appropriate space conducive to medical or mental health
    54  treatment. While in such confinement a person shall at least have access
    55  to: (i) a tablet pursuant to paragraph (t) of subdivision six of section
    56  one hundred thirty-seven of  this  chapter  unless  a  licensed  medical

        A. 8364                             6
 
     1  professional  determines that access to a tablet would be harmful to the
     2  person based on medical or mental health-related reasons;  (ii)  his  or
     3  her  full  complement of property unless a licensed medical professional
     4  determines that access to a particular item is inappropriate for medical
     5  or  mental  health-related  reasons; and   (iii) core programs and other
     6  programming and engagement  available  to  people  incarcerated  in  the
     7  general  population but done in a manner consistent with the medical and
     8  mental health treatment being received, such as at a  physical  distance
     9  determined appropriate by medical or mental health staff.
    10    §  5.  Subdivision  33 of section 2 of the correction law, as added by
    11  chapter 93 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
    12    33. "Special populations" means any person: (a)  twenty-one  years  of
    13  age  or  younger; (b) fifty-five years of age or older; (c) with a disa-
    14  bility as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision twenty-one of  section
    15  two  hundred  ninety-two of the executive law, including but not limited
    16  to: (i) all people with any mental health diagnosis; (ii) all people  on
    17  the  office  of  mental health caseload currently; (iii) all people with
    18  any intellectual, developmental, or cognitive diagnosis; (iv) all people
    19  with any physical disability diagnosis or mobility impairment;  (v)  all
    20  people with any sensorial disability diagnosis; and (vi) all people with
    21  traumatic  brain  injury  or organic brain syndrome; (d) who had been on
    22  the office of mental health caseload, or had any mental  health  diagno-
    23  sis,  within the previous year; (e) who had a diagnosis of intellectual,
    24  developmental, cognitive, physical, or sensorial disability  within  the
    25  previous year; or [(d)] (f) who is pregnant, in the first [eight] twelve
    26  weeks  of the post-partum recovery period after giving birth, experienc-
    27  ing a miscarriage, or terminating a pregnancy, or  longer  if  medically
    28  necessary,  or caring for a child in a correctional institution pursuant
    29  to [subdivisions] subdivision two or three of section six hundred eleven
    30  of this chapter.
    31    § 6. Subdivision 3 of section 137 of the correction law, as amended by
    32  chapter 322 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
    33    3. Each incarcerated individual shall be entitled to  clothing  suited
    34  to  the  season  and  weather  conditions,  including but not limited to
    35  appropriate winter weather clothing, multiple layers  of  clothing,  and
    36  the  ability  to wear personal clothing under state issued clothing when
    37  going to programs, recreation,  visits,  facility  medical,  or  medical
    38  trips  when  the  temperature  is  forty-five degrees or below, and to a
    39  sufficient quantity of quality, wholesome and nutritious food, including
    40  a full range and variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, consistent with
    41  nutritional  guideline  requirements  developed  by  the  department  of
    42  health. Medically necessary diets, including but not limited to diabetic
    43  and heart health diets, and religious diets, shall be provided and be of
    44  comparable quality and variety as general population meals.
    45    (a)  Each incarcerated individual shall be afforded sufficient time to
    46  eat their meals, including that all people shall be  provided  at  least
    47  twenty  minutes  after receiving their food to eat during meal times and
    48  that any person who requires additional time due to  age  or  disability
    49  shall be provided sufficient additional time. Each incarcerated individ-
    50  ual  shall  be  allowed to bring leftover food out of the mess hall in a
    51  small bowl.   To the extent practicable, the  clothing  and  bedding  of
    52  incarcerated  individuals  shall be manufactured and laundered in insti-
    53  tutions in the department.
    54    (b) Each incarcerated  individual  who  uses  a  wheelchair  shall  be
    55  provided an assistant to help push the wheelchair if the person who uses
    56  the wheelchair chooses to have such an assistant.

        A. 8364                             7
 
     1    § 7. Subdivision 5 of section 137 of the correction law, as amended by
     2  chapter 322 of the laws of 2021,  is amended to read as follows:
     3    5. No incarcerated individual in the care or custody of the department
     4  shall  be  subjected  to degrading treatment[, and no]. No officer [or],
     5  other employee of the department, or  other  government  employee  shall
     6  [inflict any blows whatever] use force upon any incarcerated individual,
     7  [unless  in  self defense, or to suppress a revolt or insurrection. When
     8  any incarcerated individual, or group of incarcerated individuals, shall
     9  offer violence to any person, or do or attempt to do any injury to prop-
    10  erty, or attempt to escape, or resist or disobey any  lawful  direction,
    11  the  officers and employees shall use all suitable means to defend them-
    12  selves, to maintain order, to  enforce  observation  of  discipline,  to
    13  secure  the  persons of the offenders and to prevent any such attempt or
    14  escape] except as a last resort  after  exhausting  de-escalation  tech-
    15  niques  and  where  there  are  no  practical  alternatives available to
    16  prevent: (i) imminent physical harm to other  incarcerated  individuals,
    17  staff, visitors, or other persons; (ii) major property damage that rais-
    18  es  an  imminent safety and security risk; or (iii) escape. When the use
    19  of force is authorized, officers and  employees  shall  always  use  the
    20  minimum  amount necessary to defend themselves, to secure the persons of
    21  incarcerated individuals, to prevent imminent physical harm, to  prevent
    22  major  property damage that raises an imminent safety and security risk,
    23  and to prevent an escape.  Any force used shall be proportional  to  the
    24  threat encountered.  Contractors and volunteers are prohibited from ever
    25  using force.
    26    (a) All officers, department employees, and government employees work-
    27  ing  or  operating  in  a correctional facility shall be prohibited from
    28  using excessive and unnecessary force, force after control of an  incar-
    29  cerated  individual  has  been  established,  and all high impact force,
    30  including but not limited to (i) strikes or blows  to  the  head,  face,
    31  groin,  neck,  kidneys,  and  spinal column, (ii) kicks, and (iii) choke
    32  holds, carotid restraint holds, and other neck restraints except where a
    33  person is in imminent danger of death or  equivalent  level  of  serious
    34  bodily injury and where lesser means are impractical or ineffective.
    35    (b)  No officer, other employee of the department, or other government
    36  employee working or operating in a correctional facility shall carry  or
    37  use a steel baton. Any use of other batons, chemical spray, or any other
    38  weapons shall comply with all provisions of this subdivision.
    39    (c)  No  officer,  other  employee  of the department or the office of
    40  mental health, or other government employee working or  operating  in  a
    41  correctional  facility  or  secure  facility  shall carry out, nor cause
    42  others to carry out, any form of retaliation against any  person  incar-
    43  cerated  in a correctional facility or confined in a secure facility for
    44  reporting misconduct, reporting an incident, raising a complaint, filing
    45  a grievance, filing a lawsuit, taking other legal action,  communicating
    46  with  the media, lawmakers, the Correctional Association of New York, an
    47  attorney, an advocate, any investigative body or  any  other  person  or
    48  entity,  otherwise exercising or asserting the rights of incarcerated or
    49  confined individuals or  asserting  responsibilities  of  staff  or  the
    50  department,  taking  any  other  similar  action,  or supporting another
    51  incarcerated or confined individual in taking any of the actions in this
    52  paragraph.
    53    (d) No officer, other employee of the department or the department  of
    54  mental  health,  or  other government employee working or operating in a
    55  correctional facility or secure facility shall provide any false  infor-
    56  mation  on  a  misbehavior report, unusual incident report, use of force

        A. 8364                             8
 
     1  report, or any other document, and all officers, employees, and  govern-
     2  ment employees working or operating in a correctional facility or secure
     3  facility  shall have a duty to report, and provide all relevant informa-
     4  tion  regarding,  any  and  all  observed misconduct by another officer,
     5  employee, or person working or operating in a correctional  facility  or
     6  secure facility.
     7    §  8. Subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction law is amended by
     8  adding seven new paragraphs (p), (q), (r), (s), (t), (u) and (v) to read
     9  as follows:
    10    (p) (i) All persons incarcerated in a correctional facility or  secure
    11  facility  shall  have  the  right to in-person contact visits with up to
    12  four visitors at a time, every day of the week for many hours  per  day.
    13  Visitation  shall  be  allowed at all correctional facilities and secure
    14  facilities, seven days a week,  every  day  of  the  year.  The  number,
    15  length,  and  frequency of visits by each visitor may be limited only as
    16  necessary to accommodate all visitors who arrive during scheduled visit-
    17  ing times, and any such limitations shall never infringe upon the  mini-
    18  mum  visit  requirements  in  this  paragraph. Multiple sets of visitors
    19  shall be allowed to visit an incarcerated individual at different  times
    20  on the same day, and a visitor shall be allowed to visit multiple incar-
    21  cerated  individuals  at  different  times on the same day. If a visitor
    22  leaves the correctional facility, they shall have the ability to  return
    23  to  the  facility  that  day to participate in a visit, including either
    24  with the same incarcerated individual originally visited or a  different
    25  incarcerated individual.
    26    (ii)  Neither  the  department  nor  the  office  of mental health may
    27  restrict an incarcerated individual's visits as a  disciplinary  measure
    28  or  for any other reason, nor may either agency deny or restrict a visi-
    29  tor's ability to visit so long as  the  person  visited  agrees  to  the
    30  visit.
    31    (iii)  Each  correctional  facility  and secure facility shall process
    32  visitors and bring down people in such facilities to a  visit  as  expe-
    33  ditiously  as  possible,  including ensuring that the visited person and
    34  their visitor are able to be together starting within one  hour  of  the
    35  visitor  arriving at the facility, unless the visited person voluntarily
    36  chooses to take more time to come for the visit.  All  visitors  waiting
    37  for  a visit shall have basic needs met while waiting, including but not
    38  limited to being able to wait inside, being able to comfortably sit, and
    39  having access to drinking water and bathroom facilities.
    40    (iv) No drug detecting dogs may be used inside of any  visiting  rooms
    41  or other areas where a visited person is meeting with their visitor.
    42    (v) Videoconferencing may supplement, but shall not take the place of,
    43  in-person visits.
    44    (vi) Each incarcerated individual shall be provided the opportunity to
    45  take a shower before any visit.
    46    (q)  All persons in a correctional facility or a secure facility shall
    47  have the right to receive packages from any person through direct  mail,
    48  during a visit to a correctional facility or secure facility, or by mail
    49  from  commercial sources. The department shall not require that packages
    50  be purchased from or delivered by a vendor, shall not require that pack-
    51  ages that are purchased or delivered from a vendor come from  a  partic-
    52  ular  vendor  or vendors, and shall not restrict the ability of a person
    53  to directly send items to an incarcerated individual through the facili-
    54  ty package room or directly deliver items to an incarcerated  individual
    55  through  the  visiting  process. The department shall provide for prompt
    56  delivery to incarcerated individuals of all packages,  including  prompt

        A. 8364                             9
 
     1  delivery  of  perishable food items to avoid expiration or spoilage. All
     2  packages shall be delivered to incarcerated  individuals  within  forty-
     3  eight  hours  from  the time the package arrives at the facility, except
     4  that  all packages that are brought on a visit shall be delivered to the
     5  incarcerated individual on the same day as the visit.  If any item in  a
     6  package is disallowed, the incarcerated individual shall have the option
     7  to,  within  fourteen  days of receiving written notice that the item is
     8  disallowed, donate the item to  the  charitable  organization  of  their
     9  choosing,  return the item via the visiting room, or return the item via
    10  mail at their own expense. Items that may  be  part  of  packages  shall
    11  include, but not be limited to the following items, and any restrictions
    12  on  the  particular  packaging  of any such items must be reasonably and
    13  directly related to a significant safety or security concern:
    14    (i) food utensils and food items, without any limit on the  number  of
    15  pounds  or  items, including but not limited to fresh fruits and vegeta-
    16  bles, coffee and beverages, dried coffee  cream,  bread,  pouched  food,
    17  canned food, candy, cheese, condiments, meats, nuts, oatmeal and cereal,
    18  pastries,  raisins  and  dried fruit, cooked or cured or smoked seafood,
    19  and snacks;
    20    (ii) personal cosmetics and personal hygiene products,  including  but
    21  not limited to soap, shampoo, deodorant, and feminine hygiene items;
    22    (iii) seasonally appropriate indoor and outdoor clothing and footwear;
    23    (iv)  legal,  writing,  and art supplies, including but not limited to
    24  stationery, writing and drawing implements, and typewriters;
    25    (v) educational supplies, including  but  not  limited  to  notebooks,
    26  rulers, and calculators appropriate for primary, secondary and post-sec-
    27  ondary education;
    28    (vi) new and used books, magazines and other publications;
    29    (vii) items for use in recreation and physical exercise;
    30    (viii)  accessories  for tablet computers and other electronic devices
    31  permitted in facilities;
    32    (ix) religious articles, including but not limited to prayer rugs  and
    33  books, religious headgear, and pendants; and
    34    (x) tobacco products.
    35    (r)  All  persons  incarcerated  in  a correctional facility or secure
    36  facility, other than those in segregated confinement, shall have  access
    37  to at least fourteen hours of out-of-cell time per day, including access
    38  to  at least seven hours of daily out-of-cell congregate programming and
    39  activities and access to at least two hours of congregate recreation.
    40    (s) All persons incarcerated in  a  correctional  facility  or  secure
    41  facility shall have the right to receive correspondence in its original,
    42  and  not photocopied, form, including but not limited to letters, cards,
    43  photographs, postcards, legal mail, and other correspondence.
    44    (t) All persons incarcerated in  a  correctional  facility  or  secure
    45  facility  shall  have  access  to  an  internet-connected  or  similarly
    46  equipped tablet or other device that  allows  for  free  personal  phone
    47  calls  and  free  emails,  as  well  as access to law library resources,
    48  programming, music,  games,  videos,  movies,  and  other  applications.
    49  Incarcerated  individuals shall have access to free personal phone calls
    50  and free emails at least four hours per day. Beyond the four-hour  mini-
    51  mum,  a  facility  may provide additional access to the tablet and addi-
    52  tional access to personal phone calls and emails, and all personal phone
    53  calls and emails shall be free for the person initiating and the  person
    54  receiving the communication.
    55    (u)  All correctional facilities and secure facilities shall operate a
    56  commissary or canteen. The prices of items sold at  each  commissary  or

        A. 8364                            10
 
     1  canteen  shall  take  into account the minimum wages people incarcerated
     2  are earning and shall be at least sixty percent below the current market
     3  rate for such items, as based upon the cost of similar items for sale in
     4  the  same  region  as  the  correctional  facility.  Each commissary and
     5  canteen shall be fully stocked and shall include quality  wholesome  and
     6  nutritious  food, including a full range and variety of fresh fruits and
     7  vegetables.
     8    (v) Any person incarcerated  in  a  correctional  facility  or  secure
     9  facility  shall  have a right to bring in state court an action based on
    10  any violation of this section or the regulations prescribed under  these
    11  sections  to: (i) enjoin such violation; (ii) obtain a declaratory judg-
    12  ment; (iii) recover for money damages; and (iv)  any  other  appropriate
    13  relief determined by the court.
    14    §  9.  Subparagraph  (ii) of paragraph (j) of subdivision 6 of section
    15  137 of the correction law is amended by adding two new clauses  (A)  and
    16  (B) to read as follows:
    17    (A)  Time spent in any of the following locations shall not constitute
    18  out-of-cell time: (1) on a tier or walkway outside of a cell  or  groups
    19  of cells; (2) in a recreation area contiguous to a cell; (3) in a recre-
    20  ation  area  without a group of many people afforded simultaneous access
    21  to the same shared space without physical barriers and  conducive  to  a
    22  meaningful  congregate  social  interaction;  or (4) any space without a
    23  group of many people afforded simultaneous access  to  the  same  shared
    24  space  without  physical barriers and conducive to meaningful congregate
    25  social interaction.
    26    (B) If an incarcerated individual voluntarily chooses not  to  partic-
    27  ipate  in congregate out-of-cell time, congregate recreation, or congre-
    28  gate programming, they shall be offered access to comparable  individual
    29  programming,  individual recreation, and individual time away from their
    30  cell where they sleep. Voluntarily declining to participate  in  congre-
    31  gate  out-of-cell time, congregate recreation, or congregate programming
    32  shall be done in writing or by videotape.
    33    § 10. Subparagraph (v) of paragraph (j) of subdivision  6  of  section
    34  137  of the correction law, as amended by section 4 of part NNN of chap-
    35  ter 59 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
    36    (v) An incarcerated [person] individual  in  a  residential  rehabili-
    37  tation  unit  shall  have  access  to core programs and work assignments
    38  [comparable to core programs and types of work  assignments  in  general
    39  population]  available in general population, and shall receive the same
    40  credit for participation in such programs as they would in general popu-
    41  lation for purposes of their program requirements and  for  purposes  of
    42  good  time, merit time, other time allowance, parole release, or consid-
    43  eration for other release mechanisms. Such incarcerated [persons]  indi-
    44  viduals  shall  also  have  access to additional out-of-cell, trauma-in-
    45  formed therapeutic programming aimed at promoting personal  development,
    46  addressing underlying causes of problematic behavior resulting in place-
    47  ment  in  a  residential  rehabilitation  unit,  and helping prepare for
    48  discharge from the unit and to the community.
    49    § 11. Subparagraph (vii) of paragraph (j) of subdivision 6 of  section
    50  137  of  the correction law, as added by chapter 93 of the laws of 2021,
    51  is amended to read as follows:
    52    (vii) Restraints shall not be used when incarcerated  [persons]  indi-
    53  viduals are participating in out-of-cell activities within a residential
    54  rehabilitation unit, residential mental health treatment unit, step-down
    55  unit,  correctional alternative rehabilitation unit, protective custody,
    56  and any  other  similar  unit,  unless  an  [individual]  individualized

        A. 8364                            11
 
     1  assessment is made at the time of, or immediately following, an incident
     2  involving  the  person in question that restraints are required for that
     3  specific person in question because of a  significant  and  unreasonable
     4  risk [to the safety and security] of imminent serious physical injury to
     5  self,  other  incarcerated  [persons]  individuals  or  staff  based  on
     6  concrete evidence of such  risk  by  that  person.  Such  individualized
     7  assessments shall be memorialized in writing, with a written explanation
     8  as  to why, including providing concrete evidence relied on to determine
     9  that, restraints were required for the specific person  in  question  to
    10  prevent a significant and unreasonable risk of imminent serious physical
    11  injury.
    12    (A)  Where  restraints  are  imposed,  the  least  restrictive form of
    13  restraints shall be used, for no longer than  necessary  to  abate  such
    14  imminent harm.
    15    (B)  Restraints shall not continue to be used beyond the day they were
    16  applied unless a determination is made at a subsequent due process hear-
    17  ing, with all of the protections of subdivision  one  of  this  section,
    18  that restraints remain necessary to abate a significant and unreasonable
    19  risk  of  imminent  serious  physical injury to self, other incarcerated
    20  individuals, or staff, based on concrete evidence of such risk.
    21    (C) Any continuing use of restraints shall be reviewed daily, in writ-
    22  ing, and discontinued once there is no longer a risk of imminent injury.
    23  Continued use of restraints may only be authorized for at most a  seven-
    24  day period.
    25    §  12. Paragraph (k) of subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction
    26  law is amended by adding three new subparagraphs (v), (vi) and (vii)  to
    27  read as follows:
    28    (v)  No  incarcerated individual shall receive a sanction of more than
    29  fifteen days of segregated confinement time nor more than sixty days  of
    30  time  in  a  residential  rehabilitation unit, residential mental health
    31  treatment unit, or any other disciplinary confinement unit for any inci-
    32  dent, regardless of how many charges are associated with that incident.
    33    (vi) To impose a disciplinary sanction, a hearing officer must find an
    34  incarcerated individual guilty of the charged act or acts by  clear  and
    35  convincing evidence.
    36    (vii)  All  hearing officers shall engage in a meaningful fact finding
    37  process. If a hearing officer imposes a sanction of segregated  confine-
    38  ment beyond three days or any time in a residential rehabilitation unit,
    39  the  hearing  officer  shall  detail  in  writing  in their decision the
    40  specific ways in which the act or acts the incarcerated  individual  was
    41  found guilty of met all of the requirements of subparagraph (ii) of this
    42  paragraph. The disposition or determination shall include a statement of
    43  evidence,  which  includes the testimony of each witness and a statement
    44  of reasons why the incarcerated individual's  evidence  or  defense  was
    45  credited or rejected.
    46    §  13. Paragraph (l) of subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction
    47  law is amended by adding five new subparagraphs (i), (ii),  (iii),  (iv)
    48  and (v) to read as follows:
    49    (i)  Each  person  facing  the  possibility of placement in segregated
    50  confinement or a residential rehabilitation unit shall  be  informed  in
    51  writing  and  verbally,  including before they appear for a disciplinary
    52  hearing and then again on the hearing record, that they are permitted to
    53  be represented at their disciplinary  hearing,  shall  be  provided  the
    54  opportunity to seek representation, and may bring their chosen represen-
    55  tative  into  the  hearing at any time prior to the disposition of their
    56  hearing.

        A. 8364                            12
 
     1    (ii) For all  disciplinary  hearings,  incarcerated  individuals  and,
     2  where  applicable,  their  representatives shall be provided, as soon as
     3  possible and no later than forty-eight hours prior to  the  start  of  a
     4  hearing, all evidence relevant to their disciplinary charge and/or hear-
     5  ing,  including  but  not limited to the misbehavior report, any and all
     6  exculpatory evidence, any use  of  force  or  unusual  incident  reports
     7  concerning  the incident, any to-from memoranda concerning the incident,
     8  any staff reports or accounts, any witness statements,  any  information
     9  relied  upon  from a confidential source subject to security redactions,
    10  any medical records related to  the  incident,  any  related  contraband
    11  receipts,  any  other  written  materials  concerning  the incident, any
    12  related photographs, and audio and video recordings of or related to the
    13  incident.
    14    (iii) For all disciplinary  hearings,  incarcerated  individuals  and,
    15  where  applicable,  their  representatives shall have the right during a
    16  hearing to provide opening and closing statements, request  and  receive
    17  evidence,   conduct   a  meaningful  investigation,  call  and  question
    18  witnesses, cross-examine witnesses, and present evidence.
    19    (iv) All disciplinary hearings shall be recorded and  such  recordings
    20  shall  be  provided to the incarcerated individual and his or her repre-
    21  sentative, if applicable.
    22    (v) If a person is held in segregated  confinement  or  a  residential
    23  rehabilitation  unit  prior  to  a hearing, any time spent in segregated
    24  confinement or a residential rehabilitation unit prior  to  the  hearing
    25  shall:  (A)  if  the  person is found guilty of an eligible charge under
    26  subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (k)  of  this  subdivision,  be  credited
    27  toward  any  sanction to segregated confinement or residential rehabili-
    28  tation unit imposed; and (B) if the person is not  found  guilty  of  an
    29  eligible  charge under subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (k) of this subdi-
    30  vision, be credited as additional  good  time  behavior  allowance  time
    31  under section eight hundred three of this chapter.
    32    §  14. Paragraph (o) of subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction
    33  law, as amended by section 6 of part NNN of chapter 59 of  the  laws  of
    34  2021, is amended to read as follows:
    35    (o)  The department shall publish monthly reports on its website, with
    36  semi-annual and annual cumulative reports, of the total number  of  beds
    37  at  each  facility,  including the number of beds held vacant for use as
    38  quarantine, and the total number of people who are in, separately  list-
    39  ed:  general population; segregated confinement [and the total number of
    40  people  who  are  in];  residential  rehabilitation   units;   step-down
    41  programs;  residential  mental health treatment units, including but not
    42  limited to behavioral health units,  residential  mental  health  units,
    43  therapeutic behavior units, intermediate care programs, and transitional
    44  intermediate  care  programs;  protective custody; administrative segre-
    45  gation; reception, shock incarceration; I-ASAT; close supervision units;
    46  special needs units; assessment and program preparation units;  residen-
    47  tial  crisis  treatment  units;  intensive  intermediate  care programs,
    48  correctional alternative rehabilitation units, units for the cognitively
    49  impaired, and any and all  other  designated  units  within  the  prison
    50  system where out-of-cell time is restricted in any way, on the first day
    51  of each month and the total number of placements in each location during
    52  the  preceding  month.    The  reports  shall provide a breakdown of the
    53  number of people  and  placements,  separately  listed,  in  [segregated
    54  confinement  and  in  residential  rehabilitation] each of the aforemen-
    55  tioned units, separately listed, by: (i) age; (ii) race;  (iii)  gender;
    56  (iv) mental health treatment level; (v) special health accommodations or

        A. 8364                            13
 
     1  needs;  (vi)  need  for  and  participation  in  substance use disorder,
     2  academic,  vocational,  transitional  services,  aggression  replacement
     3  training,  sex offense counseling and treatment, and all other mandatory
     4  programs,  separately  listed; (vii) pregnancy status; (viii) continuous
     5  length of stay in [residential treatment units] each type  of  unit,  as
     6  well  as  length of stay in the past sixty days; (ix) number of days [in
     7  segregated confinement] and hours per day, of participation  in  out-of-
     8  cell  group  programming; (x) a list of all incidents resulting in sanc-
     9  tions of segregated confinement,  including  all  substantiated  charges
    10  related  to  each  incident,  by  facility,  unit,  amount of segregated
    11  confinement and residential rehabilitation unit  time  imposed  for  the
    12  sanction,  and  date  of  occurrence;  (xi)  [the number of incarcerated
    13  persons in segregated confinement by] facility; [and] (xii)  the  number
    14  of  [incarcerated persons in residential rehabilitation units by facili-
    15  ty] incidents of self-harm, suicide attempts, and suicide  by  facility,
    16  unit,  and  date  of occurrence; (xiii) the number of deaths by facility
    17  and unit, cause of death, and date of occurrence; (xiv)  the  number  of
    18  sanctions  taking  away  a  person's  privileges or services, separately
    19  listed and including but not limited to,  visitation,  packages,  corre-
    20  spondence,  phone  calls,  tablets,  cell  shield, programs, recreation,
    21  commissary, out-of-cell time, food, restitution,  forfeiture  of  funds,
    22  loss  of  good  time, family reunion program, and imposed work task; and
    23  (xv) staff uses of force, by facility, unit, date of  occurrence,  level
    24  of  injury  to  incarcerated  individuals  and staff, and outcome of any
    25  disciplinary or other action taken.
    26    § 15. Severability. If any provision of this act, or  any  application
    27  of  any  provision  of  this  act, is held to be invalid, that shall not
    28  affect the validity or effectiveness of any other provision of this act,
    29  or of any other application of any provision of this act, which  can  be
    30  given effect without that provision or application; and to that end, the
    31  provisions and applications of this act are severable.
    32    §  16.  This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
    33  have become a law.
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