What's happening
This bill requires the state board of parole's annual report to include demographic statistics on individuals considered for or granted release.
Why it matters
Provides transparency on parole decisions by requiring demographic breakdowns (such as age, gender, race, and region of commitment) for individuals considered or granted release. This allows the public and policymakers to better understand who is being released and whether patterns of disparity or bias exist.
Enables policymakers, advocacy groups, and researchers to analyze trends and disparities in parole outcomes. Detailed demographic data can help identify if certain groups face systemic disadvantages in the parole process.
Supports accountability and informed reform. By making demographic information public, the state board of parole could be held more accountable for its decisions, and evidence-based reforms can be proposed if inequities are detected.
May impact trust and public perception of the parole system. Increased transparency can either build public confidence or highlight areas needing improvement, affecting how communities view the fairness and effectiveness of parole in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Report Parole Demographics Annually
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and 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.
Report Parole Demographics Annually
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Luis R. Sepúlveda
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4891
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sens. DIAZ, HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the duties of the state board of parole
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 13 of section 259-c of the executive law, as amended by section 38-b of subpart A of part C of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
13. transmit a report of the work of the state board of parole for the preceding calendar year to the governor and the legislature annually. Such report shall include statistical information regarding the demographics of persons granted release and considered for release to community supervision or deportation, including but not limited to age, gender, race, ethnicity, region of commitment and other relevant categories of classification and commitment;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07275-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the duties of the state board of parole
Purpose
This bill directs the Board of Parole to add to their annual report the demographic data of persons considered for release.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends the executive law, section 259-c, subdivision 13. Provides that the parole board shall publish demographic data including race, ethnicity, region of commitment and other relevant data regarding the persons it considers for release in its statutorily required annual report to the governor and the legislature.
Section 2. Effective Date.
Justification
The Board of Parole has reported that it does not track release decisions by age, ethnicity or other standard criteria maintained by the Department of Correctional Services. In a public hearing in 2013, the Board chair testified that it has remained completely neutral with respect to demographic comparisons in its parole release decision-making process but admitted that the Board maintains no demographic data to support that claim. The chair also testified that the Board gives no special consideration to the characteristics of inmates which are known to indicate a low risk of recidivism, characteristics like age and category of crime, and has no ability to make sure that discriminatory decisions are not being made based on race, ethnicity, region of commitment, type of offense, age or gender.
The Board claims that race is not a factor in its decisions, but since the Board has never documented race or other demographic data of persons it considers for release, the Board cannot know whether it is in fact as neutral as it purports to be. Because the Department of Correctional Services documents and reports on the demographics of its inmates in a large variety of categories, the ability to track such data and report on it is already available at no additional cost to taxpayers. The Board should be able to reflect on its own performance and lay to rest any claims of disparate treatment.
Existing law
None.
Legislative history
2016: S.356 - REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION/A.2943- passed assembly 2105: S.356- REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION/A.2943- passed assembly 2014: S.7844 - Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction/A.9370 Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
Minimal to none in consideration of the fact that the data is already tracked by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and that the Board already is required to issue an annual report.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.