What's happening
This bill requires inmate information websites to be searchable by an inmate's current name, former legal names, or any known aliases.
Why it matters
Helps the public, attorneys, journalists, and victims locate inmate records even if the person has changed their name or uses aliases. , making searches more comprehensive and reliable.
Closes potential loopholes for individuals who may seek to obscure their incarceration history by changing their legal name. , thus supporting transparency and public safety.
Aligns digital search tools with real-world practices. (such as legal name changes after marriage, transition, or other reasons), reducing confusion or failed searches due to outdated or alternate names.
May require updates to existing Department of Corrections IT systems and databases. , potentially resulting in new administrative costs or technical challenges for implementation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Inmate Search Easier
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3536
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 8, 2019
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- 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 requiring that websites providing inmate information be searchable by the inmate's name, former name or alias
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 9 of the correction law, as added by section 2 of part OO of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 9. Access to inmate information via the internet. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any information relating to the conviction of a person, except for a person convicted of an offense that would make such person ineligible for merit time under section eight hundred three of this chapter or an offense for which registration as a sex offender is required as set forth in subdivision two or three of section one hundred sixty-eight-a of this chapter, that is posted on a website maintained by or for the department, under article six of the public officers law, may be posted on such website for a period not to exceed five years after the expiration of such person's sentence of imprisonment and any period of parole or post-release supervision; provided, however, that in the case of a person who has been committed to the department on more than one occasion, the department may post conviction information relating to any prior commitment on such website for a period not to exceed five years after the expiration of such person's sentence of imprisonment and any period of parole or post-release supervision arising from the most recent commitment to the department; provided further, however, that any such website that allows the public to search for inmate information shall be programmed in such a manner that the search may be successful by input of the inmate's
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06296-01-9
S. 3536 2
current name, any former legal name or any other known alias of the inmate.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 requiring that websites providing inmate information be searchable by the inmate's name, former name or alias
Purpose
To allow the public to be able to search the Department of Corrections inmate information database by the inmate's current legal name, their former legal name, or any known alias.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends section 9 of the correction law to provide that any website that allows the public to search for inmate information will be programmed in such a way to allow for the public to search by the inmate's current name, any former legal name, or any other known alias of the inmate.
Section 2. Effective date.
Justification
When an inmate legally changes their name, the general public, and more specifically victims of the inmate's crime, may not be made aware of this name change. As a result, the public, and more importantly the victim, will no longer be able to search for the inmate by the inmate's former name. This causes significant problems for victims trying to access information on the inmate. In order to make searching easier for victims, the website that allows the public to search for inmate infor- mation should be searchable by the inmate's current name and any former name. This way, if a victim is unaware that an inmate has changed his or her name, the victim will still be able to search for the inmate by his or her former name.
Legislative history
2017-16: S785 - PASSED SENATE 2015-16: S.1745 - Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee 2013-14: S.1209 - Finance Committee 2012: S.7303 - Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth 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.