Provides for inmate reimbursement of expenses of confinement in certain instances

2 Co-sponsors

• Stephen Hawley
• David McDonough

2 Multi-sponsors

• David Koon
• Teresa Sayward

BILL NUMBER:A9055

Title of bill

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to reimbursement of inmate expenses of imprisonment

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill adds a new section 601-e to the Correction Law to require wealthy inmates to pay the costs associated with their incarceration.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill creates a schedule to determine the percentage of the costs of incarceration that must be born by the inmate. An inmate with total assets of $200,000 or more shall pay one hundred percent of his or her incarceration costs. An inmate with assets of more that $160,000 but less than $200,000 shall pay eighty percent of his or her incarceration costs. Inmates with assets of $120,000 or more but less than $160,000 shall pay sixty percent. An in mate with assets of $80,000 or more but less than $120,000 shall pay forty percent of his or her costs. An inmate with assets of $40,000 but less than $80,000 shall pay twenty percent of his or her expenses. Lastly, an inmate with total assets less than $40,000 shall not be required to pay any of the costs associated wit incarceration. The term "total assets" shall not include the value of an inmate's home or any equity in that home,

Justification

This legislation seeks to eliminate situations where taxpayers are forced to pay costs associated with incarcerating well-off criminals. Taxpayers should not be stuck with the bill housing well off criminals that often are able to return to their opulent lifestyles once they are released. Forcing wealthy criminals to pay the costs associated with their incarceration will act as a deterrent and will prevent the inappropriate use of taxpayer funds in our prisons. "A recent incident in lower Manhattan's Tombs prison demonstrates the needs for this legislation. That facility was used as a social club for parties hosted by wealthy inmates and their connected friends. This bill will hold criminals accountable for their actions while taking the fiscal burden off our taxpayers.

Prior legislative history

New Bill

Fiscal implications

To be determined

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of. regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.