What's happening
This bill prohibits placing pregnant inmates, recent mothers, and inmate mothers living with infants in segregated confinement.
Why it matters
Recognizes the heightened physical and mental health risks. By barring segregated confinement for pregnant inmates, recent mothers, and those living with infants, the bill acknowledges the particular vulnerability of these populations to the negative psychological and physiological effects of isolation.
Supports early maternal-infant bonding. Allowing inmate mothers to remain with their infants in nursery programs without fear of segregation promotes stable attachment, which research shows is crucial for infant development and long-term wellbeing.
Signals a shift in correctional priorities. This change reflects growing attention to trauma-informed and gender-responsive correctional policies, emphasizing rehabilitation and humane treatment over purely punitive approaches for incarcerated women.
Addresses potential for systemic disparities. By specifically protecting pregnant and postpartum women from segregated confinement, the bill may help reduce the disproportionate impact of harsh prison practices on women—often already facing socioeconomic and health inequities prior to incarceration.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Solitary for Pregnant Inmates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 25
35 Co-sponsors
- Thomas Abinanti
- Jeffrion Aubry
- Didi Barrett
- Charles Barron
- Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
- Michael Blake
- William Colton
- Marcos Crespo
- Jeffrey Dinowitz
- Steven Englebright
- Patricia Fahy
- Richard Gottfried
- Andrew Hevesi
- Pamela J. Hunter
- Ellen C. Jaffee
- Latoya Joyner
- Donna Lupardo
- Walter T. Mosley
- Daniel O'Donnell
- Victor M. Pichardo
- Crystal Peoples-Stokes
- N. Nick Perry
- Dan Quart
- Andrew Raia
- Linda Rosenthal
- Phil Steck
- Albert A. Stirpe
- Latrice Walker
- Carmen De La Rosa
- David Weprin
- Alicia Hyndman
- Aravella Simotas
- Kimberly Jean-Pierre
- Rebecca Seawright
- Judy Griffin
History
- Referred 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.
End Solitary for Pregnant Inmates
In Senate Committee · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · Sponsor Andrew J. Lanza
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5339
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 11, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC, ABINANTI, AUBRY, BARRETT, BARRON, BICHOTTE, BLAKE, COLTON, CRESPO, DINOWITZ, ENGLEBRIGHT, FAHY, GOTT- FRIED, HEVESI, HUNTER, JAFFEE, JOYNER, LUPARDO, MOSLEY, O'DONNELL, PICHARDO, PEOPLES-STOKES, PERRY, QUART, RAIA, L. ROSENTHAL, STECK, STIRPE, WALKER, DE LA ROSA, WEPRIN, HYNDMAN, SIMOTAS, JEAN-PIERRE, SEAWRIGHT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, BRAUNSTEIN, COOK, DAVILA, EPSTEIN, GALEF, GLICK, SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to the segregated confinement of pregnant inmates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction law, as amended by chapter 1 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
Except as provided in paragraphs (d) [and], (e), and (g) of this subdivision, the superintendent of a correctional facility may keep any inmate confined in a cell or room, apart from the accommodations provided for inmates who are participating in programs of the facility, for such period as may be necessary for maintenance of order or discipline, but in any such case the following conditions shall be observed:
§ 2. Subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction law is amended by adding a new paragraph (g) to read as follows:
(g) Segregated confinement is prohibited for pregnant inmates, inmates who have given birth within the past eight weeks and inmate mothers living with infants in prison nursery programs.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01007-01-9
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.