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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to evaluation of inmates housed or confined in segregated confinement; and to establish the task force on determining alternatives to segregated confinement
Purpose
Provides for the evaluation of inmates housed or confined in segregated confinement and establishes the task force on determining alternatives to segregated confinement.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 137-a to read as follows: § 137-a. Segregated confinement; inmate evaluation. 1. Any inmate housed or confined in segregated confinement at a correctional facility shall, prior to such confinement, be evaluated by a health care professional licensed pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one or one hundred sixty-three of the education law. Such health care practitioner shall determine whether or not the placement of such inmate in segregated confinement poses a substantial risk of harm to such inmate and if such a risk is present, shall disallow such housing or confinement. 2. Any inmate housed or confine in segregated at a correctional facility shall, at least once every five days during such confinement, be evaluated by a health care professional licensed pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one or one hundred sixty-three of the education law. Such health care practitioner shall determine whether or not the continued housing or confinement of such inmate in segregated confinement poses a substantial risk of harm to such inmate and if such a risk is present, shall terminate such housing or confinement. 3. For purposes of this section the term "correctional facility" shall have the same meaning set forth in subdivision three of section forty of this chapter and the term "segregated confinement" shall have the same meaning set forth in subdivision twenty-three of section two of this chapter.
Existing law
New
Justification
A total of 4,446 inmates died in 2013, an increase of 131 deaths since 2012. In 2013, a total of 967 jail inmates died while in the custody of local jails. The number of deaths increased from 958 deaths in 2012 to 967 in 2013, while the jail population decreased 4%. As a result, the overall mortality rate in local jails increased from 128 per 100,000 jail inmates in 2012 to 135 per 100,000 in 2013. Suicide and heart disease have been the top two causes of death in local jails since 2000. Suicide has been the leading cause of death in jails every year since 2000. In 2013, a third (34%) of jail inmate deaths were due to suicide. The suicide rate increased 14%, from 40 suicides per 100,000 jail inmates in 2012 to 46 per 100,000 in 2013.
Mentally ill offenders possess a unique set of circumstances and needs. However, all too often, they cycle through the criminal justice system without appropriate care to address their mental health. Their recurring involvement in the criminal justice system is a pressing concern. It also causes challenges involved in the reintegration of mentally ill offenders into society.
Legislative history
New
Fiscal implications
TBD
Local fiscal implications
TBD
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided that section one of this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.