What's happening
This bill requires the Department of Corrections to provide free, regular transportation for visitors to correctional facilities from major New York cities.
Why it matters
Reduces financial and logistical barriers for families and friends. by making prison visitation more accessible, potentially strengthening support networks for incarcerated individuals and aiding in their rehabilitation.
Targets residents of major urban centers. including New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Albany—who are often most affected by the distance to upstate correctional facilities, addressing regional inequities in visitation opportunities.
Requires proactive communication. about transportation options, mandating that the Department of Corrections publicize schedules online, by phone, and directly to inmates, increasing transparency and awareness of available services.
Could improve inmate well-being and outcomes. by increasing the likelihood of regular visits, which research has linked to lower recidivism rates and better mental health for people in custody.
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Who cares
Correctional facility visitors
The bill would require free transportation at least bimonthly from New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and Albany to correctional facilities determined by the commissioner.
Incarcerated people
They would receive notice of available visitor transportation upon reception and transfer to a new correctional facility.
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
The department would have to provide the transportation and make information available on its public website and through its designated telephone number.
Headline styles
Free Prison Visit Transportation
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to ways and means
- 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.
Free Prison Visit Transportation
In Senate Committee · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · Sponsor Velmanette Montgomery
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5942
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 20, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. DE LA ROSA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to available transportation for correction facility visitation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 138-b to read as follows:
§ 138-b. Visitor transportation. In conjunction with the inmate visiting program, the department shall provide transportation for visitors to correctional facilities on a regular basis, but no less than bimonthly, at no cost to visitors. Transportation shall be provided from the city of New York, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and Albany to correctional facilities, as determined by the commissioner. Information concerning transportation shall be posted on the department's public website, and shall be available from the telephone number designated, pursuant to section one hundred thirty-eight-a of this article. Notice of available transportation shall be provided to inmates upon reception and upon transfer to a new correctional facility.
§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03542-03-9
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.