What's happening
This bill allows contiguous counties in New York to establish regional jails, which will be legally recognized as county jails.
Why it matters
Encourages regional cooperation. By allowing contiguous counties to jointly create and operate a single jail, the bill can make it easier for counties to pool resources, potentially leading to cost savings and improved efficiency in jail management.
Legal clarity for regional jails. Defining regional jails as county jails under state law removes ambiguity, ensuring that inmates housed in these facilities are treated the same as those in traditional county jails for all legal purposes (such as sentencing, court appearances, and funding).
Potential for improved jail conditions. With more counties able to share the costs and responsibilities, regional jails might be able to afford better facilities, programs, and staffing than smaller, individual county jails, potentially improving conditions for inmates and staff.
Flexibility for counties facing challenges. Counties with older, overcrowded, or under-resourced jails could use this framework as an alternative to expensive renovations or construction, addressing local corrections challenges more flexibly.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Count Regional Jails as County
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to correction
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7960
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the county law and the correction law, in relation to regional jails being considered county jails
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 217 of the county law is amended to read as follows:
§ 217. County jail. 1. Each county shall continue to maintain a county jail as prescribed by law.
2. A set of contiguous counties may establish a regional jail to be maintained by such counties and which may be used to board inmates from such counties. All regional jails shall be considered county jails for each county which maintains the facility and boards inmates at the facility for the purposes of any section of law.
§ 2. Section 500-a of the correction law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any set of contiguous counties may establish a regional jail to be maintained by such counties and which may be used to board inmates from such counties. All regional jails shall be considered county jails for each county which maintains and boards inmates at the facility for the purposes of any section of law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11983-01-9
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.