What's happening
This bill requires that inmates be allowed a personal phone call and next of kin be notified before a transfer, with exceptions for safety.
Why it matters
Enhances inmate rights and family connections. By guaranteeing a personal phone call and electronic notification to next of kin before a transfer, the bill aims to reduce trauma, prevent confusion, and maintain important family ties during disruptive transitions.
Promotes transparency and accountability. Requiring written documentation whenever calls are denied due to safety concerns helps ensure that exceptions are justified, not arbitrary, and creates a paper trail for oversight.
Balances security with humane treatment. While prioritizing inmate and staff safety through exceptions, the bill still mandates post-transfer calls or staff-assisted notification, ensuring communication is not unreasonably withheld.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Inmates Call Before Transfer
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Amended on third reading 10829b
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.71
- Rules report cal.71
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Print number 10829a
- Amend and recommit to correction
- Referred to correction
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Inmate Calls Before Transfer
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Jesse Hamilton
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10829--B R. R. 71
IN ASSEMBLY
May 22, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. MOSLEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported and referred to the Committee on Rules -- ordered to a third reading -- amended on the special order of third reading, ordered reprinted as amended, retaining its place on the special order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to allowing a telephone call prior to an inmate's transfer
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 23 of the correction law, as amended by chapter 254 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
1. The commissioner shall have the power to transfer inmates from one correctional facility to another. Whenever the transfer of inmates from one correctional facility to another shall be ordered by the commissioner, the superintendent of the facility from which the inmates are transferred shall take immediate steps to make the transfer. The transfer shall be in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the department for the safe delivery of such inmates to the designated facility. [Within] Immediately prior to the transfer, the department shall electronically notify the inmate's next of kin or personal representative of the transfer and the inmate shall be allowed to make at least one personal phone call, except under exceptional circumstances when to do so would create an unacceptable risk to the safety and security of inmates or staff. When a call is not permitted due to exceptional circumstances, the department shall so indicate in a contemporaneous written document. Additionally, within twenty-four hours of arriving at the facility to which an inmate is transferred, he or she shall be allowed to make at least one personal phone call, except when to do so would create an unacceptable risk to the safety and security of inmates or staff. If security precautions prevent the inmate from making such call, a staff member designated by the superintendent of the facility shall make a call to a person of the inmate's choice unless the inmate declines to have such a call made.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16015-04-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.