Requires that rehabilitation programs for female inmates in state correctional facilities be equivalent to those provided to male inmates elsewhere in the state

1 Co-sponsor

• Velmanette Montgomery

BILL NUMBER:S3816

Title of bill

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to assuring rehabilitation programs for female inmates equivalent to programs afforded male inmates

Purpose of bill

To extend to the female inmate population, anywhere in the State, the same opportunity to participate in programs of rehabilitation that are afforded to the male inmate population, thereby increasing the skills available to these women, while incarcerated, for which they may train to seek employment upon their release.

Effects of present law which this bill would alter

Adds new § 114 to the Correction Law.

Justification

There is a disparity in the types and numbers of vocational and industrial Programs and classes accessible to women inmates during their incarceration as compared to those accessible to male inmates. Far fewer vocational programs are offered in state correctional facilities for women as compared to men and the ones offered include traditionally female occupations. Far fewer industrial training shops are offered in female facilities as compared to male facilities/ Where programs are available in women facilities, there are long wait lists such that those signed up may be released without having an opportunity to gain the skills they signed up for. Women are now entering non-traditional occupations in great numbers, such as construction and building maintenance. Such work can be a major route out of poverty and help end recidivism for women, inasmuch as the wages for such work are greater than wages earned by women in traditionally female occupations. Many of the vocational and industrial programs offered to men train them to work in these occupations upon release. without the appropriate skills, women will have more difficulty competing for those jobs upon their release from incarceration, This legislation will help ensure that relevant programs providing marketable skills and training designed to assist inmates obtain stable and gainful employment upon release are also available to incarcerated women.

Legislative history

2009: S.5993/A.4809-A (Weinstein) - Vetoed Memo 79 2008: A.3126 - Passed Assembly 2007: A.3126 - Passed Assembly 2008-06: A.8173 - Passed the Assembly 2004: A.4302 - Assembly Calendar 2003: A.4302 - Assembly Calendar 2002: A.4434 - Rules Committee 2001: A.4434 Assembly Calendar 2000: A.3631 - Rules Committee 1999: A.3631 Corrections Committee 1997-98: A.3889 - Corrections Committee 1996: A.2336 - Corrections Committee

1995: A.2336 - Ways and Means Committee 1994: A.3518 - Corrections Committee 1993: A.3518 - Ways and Means Committee 1991-92: A.2718 - Ways and Means Committee 1989-90: A.5728 Ways and Means Committee 1987-88: A.3493 - Corrections Committee 198586: A.2944 - Corrections Committee

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the 60th day after it shall have become a law.