What's happening
This bill bans the use of double-bunked housing in New York correctional facilities and requires relocation of affected inmates.
Why it matters
Addresses inmate safety and well-being. by eliminating double-bunked housing, which is often linked to increased violence, tension, and health risks due to overcrowding and lack of privacy.
Mandates that relocated inmates cannot be placed in more restrictive environments. (like solitary or higher-security units) unless justified, aiming to prevent the use of harsher conditions as a default solution to the ban.
Could require significant logistical and financial investments. by the state to create or identify sufficient single-bunk accommodations, potentially impacting facility operations and budgets.
Empowers the Department of Corrections to create or amend regulations. as needed for the transition, giving the agency flexibility but also raising questions about the timeline and specifics of implementation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Double Bunking in Prisons
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- 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.
Ban Prison Double Bunking
In Assembly Committee · Correction · Sponsor Billy Jones
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1334
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sens. GALLIVAN, AKSHAR, GRIFFO, HELMING -- 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 correction law, in relation to the prohibition of double-bunked housing in correctional facilities
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 607 to read as follows:
§ 607. Prohibition of double-bunked housing. 1. For purposes of this section "double-bunked housing" shall mean the practice of inmate housing where bunk beds are used in a dormitory setting, with inmates residing in an open space and sleeping on bunk beds.
2. Upon the effective date of this section, the department is prohibited from housing inmates using double-bunked housing practices in correctional facilities. Any inmates housed in such double-bunked housing on the effective date of this section shall be moved to other housing accommodations provided that such accommodations are not located in a more restrictive housing unit or correctional facility unless otherwise appropriate.
3. The department is authorized to promulgate or repeal any rules and regulations necessary to facilitate the implementation of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02991-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to the prohibition of double-bunked housing in correctional facilities
Purpose of the bill
This bill prevents the double bunking of inmates in a dormitory setting within State correctional facilities.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 establishes a new section within the correction law prohibit- ing the double bunking of inmates in a dormitory setting.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
Regulations, promulgated by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in the late 1980's authorized the double bunking of inmates to address the expanding prison population of that period. In doing so, the department increased the number of inmates housed in a medium secure dormitory, typically designed to accommodate up to 50 inmates, to between 60 and 90 inmates.
This increase in the number of inmates' presents a very significant challenge regarding the ability to provide for the safety and security of both inmates and correction officers. Such was the concern of the State Commission on Correction, which in a separate rule making permit- ting double celling opined that "the practice of double bunking poses a number of security risks not necessarily associated with the practice of double celling. By design, medium security correctional facilities allow for much greater mobility of the inmate population than maximum security correctional facilities. An inmate disturbance in a medium security correctional facility, where there is a concentration of a large number of inmates, thus could be more difficult to contain than at a maximum- security facility. Since maximum security correctional facilities are specifically designed to provide for the isolation of various areas within the prison, an inmate disturbance would be easier to bring under control." NYS Register, September 27, 1995, p.2.
Ensuring the safety and security of both inmates and correction officers within our correctional facilities is the underpinning that enables all other programming and rehabilitation to be successful. Preventing the double bunking of inmates housed in these dorm style settings will contribute to that most important of principles.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S.8028a/A.10173a Passed Senate/Referred to Correction
Fiscal implications
Yet to be determined.
Effective date
The bill would take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.