What's happening
This bill limits certain prison privileges by prohibiting unsupervised civilian contact and civilian clothing for inmates convicted of specified serious crimes.
Why it matters
Targets inmates convicted of the most serious crimes (murder and certain sexual offenses), impacting only a specific group rather than the entire prison population. This means the changes are highly targeted and likely to affect individuals considered to pose higher risks.
Removes unsupervised contact with civilians for affected inmates, potentially reducing risks to public safety and decreasing opportunities for escape, contraband exchange, or other incidents involving outside individuals.
Bans civilian clothing for these inmates, making it easier for authorities to visually identify them as prisoners, which could enhance security during any interactions outside secure prison areas (such as court appearances or hospital visits).
May affect inmates’ rehabilitation experience and sense of dignity by further distinguishing and isolating them from regular civilian life, possibly influencing debates about the balance between punishment, rights, and safety in the correctional system.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Prisoner Privileges
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- 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.
Limit Prisoner Privileges
In Assembly Committee · Correction · Sponsor Billy Jones
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2212
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sens. TEDISCO, ORTT -- 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 enacting the "prison privilege limitation act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "prison privilege limitation act".
§ 2. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 625 to read as follows:
§ 625. Limitation of prison privileges for certain individuals. An individual in a state correctional facility, as defined by subdivision four of section two of this chapter, who has been convicted and is serving a sentence pursuant to section 125.25, 125.26, 125.27, 130.30 and/or 130.35 of the penal law, except for the purposes of receiving medical treatment pursuant to section five hundred eight of this chapter, shall not be left in the company of civilians without supervision of a correction officer or law enforcement officer. In no case shall such individual be granted the privilege of wearing civilian clothing.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02897-01-9
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 enacting the "prison privilege limitation act"
Purpose
To enact the "Prison Privilege Limitation Act."
Summary of provisions
Amends the correction law by adding a new section 625 to state that an individual who has been convicted of first or second degree murder, aggravated murder, or first, second, or third degree rape shall be inel- igible to partake in a furlough program established pursuant to article twenty-two-a of this chapter or a temporary release program established pursuant to article twenty-six of this chapter. Furthermore, except for receiving medical treatment, no such civilian shall be left in the company of civilians without supervision of a prison guard or law enforcement officer no should such individual be granted the privilege of wearing civilian clothing.
Justification
This bill addresses some important concerns with prison privileges in state correctional facilities. This bill only applies to the worst offenders, those who have been convicted of murder or rape, and requir- ing a prison guard or law enforcement officer to be present when these offenders are in the company of civilians is not an unreasonable policy.
Legislative history
06/15/15 S.5978 REFERRED TO RULES
06/16/15 S.5978 AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO RULES
06/16/15 S.5978 PRINT NUMBER 5978A
06/18/15 S.5978 ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1847
06/25/15 S.5978 RECOMMITTED TO RULES
01/06/16 S.5978 REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
03/23/16 S.5978 FIRST REPORT CAL.441
03/28/16 S.5978 SECOND REPORT CAL.
03/29/16 S.5978 ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
06/17/16 S.5978 COMMITTED TO RULES
01/25/17 S.3689 REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
06/07/17 S.3689 REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
01/03/18 S.3689 REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.