Relates to making the cost of incarceration for non-violent felons available to the public

BILL NUMBER:S8494

Title of bill

An act to amend the criminal procedure law and the correction law, in relation to making the cost of incarceration for non-violent felony offenders available to the public

Purpose or general idea of bill

To make the cost of incarceration available to the public for nonviolent felony offenders.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Amends the criminal procedure law by adding a new Article 425. Requires the sentencing judge to make the cost of incarceration available to the public when a sentence of incarceration is imposed upon a nonviolent felony offender. Requires the Department of Correctional Services to provide an estimate of the cost of incarceration upon the request of the sentencing judge prior to sentencing. Defines nonviolent felony offenses.

Section 2. Amends the correction law by adding a new section 601-e to require the Department of Correctional Services to provide an estimate of the cost of incarceration for a nonviolent felony offender, at the request of the sentencing judge.

Justification

When nonviolent felony offenders receive a sentence of incarceration, the cost of their incarceration should be made available to the public. Taxpayers after all, pay the cost of incarceration and they should know how their taxes are being spent.

This bill would require the Department of Corrections, upon the request of the sentencing judge, to provide an estimate of the cost of incarcer- ation for nonviolent felony offenders. Knowledge of the cost of incar- ceration may increase the use of less expensive alternatives to incar- ceration when such alternatives are appropriate.

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

Undetermined.

Effective date

Sixty days after it shall have become law.