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A3120Assembly2019-2020 Session

AG Probes 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+1 co-sponsorAffects 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 that sexual harassment complaints by inmates against department employees be investigated by the attorney general, with binding findings.

Why it matters

  1. Removes internal handling of sexual harassment complaints by requiring the Attorney General (AG) to lead investigations. , which can help address concerns about bias or conflicts of interest when a department investigates its own staff.

  2. Gives binding authority to the AG’s findings and recommendations. , meaning the Department of Corrections is legally required to act on the outcomes, potentially increasing accountability and ensuring consequences for misconduct.

  3. Signals to incarcerated individuals that their complaints will be taken seriously by an independent party. , which may encourage more victims to come forward and can foster a safer, more respectful environment within correctional facilities.

  4. May set a precedent for independent oversight of other types of inmate grievances. , raising broader questions about transparency and accountability for state-run institutions.

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Who cares

Headline styles

AG Probes 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

1 Co-sponsor

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

3120

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 28, 2019

Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW, GALEF -- 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.

LBD06548-01-9

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.