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A3561Assembly2017-2018 Session

Investigate Prison Harassment Claims

Official title

“Requires inmate sexual harassment complaints made against department employees to be investigated by the attorney general”

Sponsor J. Gary PretlowAD-89+2 co-sponsorsAffects Public Safety & Consumer Affairs
Status
In Assembly Committee
Correction
Impact
7/10
Significant
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Correction

What's happening

This bill requires the New York Attorney General to investigate inmate sexual harassment complaints against correctional staff, with binding findings and recommendations.

Why it matters

  1. Shifts oversight of sexual harassment complaints away from prison staff and administration. , potentially reducing conflicts of interest and increasing trust in investigations for incarcerated individuals.

  2. Empowers the Attorney General with binding authority. , meaning any recommendations or findings from their investigations must be implemented by the Department of Corrections, ensuring actual changes are made rather than just suggestions.

  3. Could have a deterrent effect on staff misconduct. , as correctional employees would be aware that complaints are investigated externally and outcomes are enforceable, possibly leading to improved behavior and safer conditions for inmates.

  4. May set a precedent for independent oversight in other areas of correctional administration. , opening the door to broader reforms around prison accountability and inmate rights.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Investigate Prison Harassment Claims

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
J. Gary Pretlow

Assembly Member · Assembly District 89

Chair, Ways and Means

History

  1. Referred to correction
  2. Referred to correction

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

3561

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 27, 2017

Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW, GALEF, WEINSTEIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DINOWITZ, GOTTFRIED, ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction

AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to the investigation of sexual harassment complaints made by inmates

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Section 139 of the correction law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:

7. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule to the contrary, any grievance made by an individual in the custody of the department alleging sexual harassment by an employee of the department shall be investigated by the attorney general. The findings and recommendations of the attorney general shall be final and the department shall take the necessary and required actions to implement such findings and recommendations.

§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD08668-01-7

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.