What's happening
This bill requires a study and report on the treatment, conditions, and needs of aging prison populations in New York.
Why it matters
Aging prison populations are growing. , and the bill aims to collect detailed data on their demographics, projected numbers, and factors driving this increase—information critical for planning and resource allocation as New York’s inmate population ages.
The study will scrutinize the adequacy of current facilities and services. for elderly inmates, including specialized housing, medical care, and programs that address vulnerabilities like mobility, mental health, and physical decline—highlighting potential gaps in humane treatment.
Correctional staff training is under review. , with the bill calling for an assessment of existing specialized training for officers working with older inmates, raising awareness about whether staff are prepared to handle this group’s specific needs.
The findings could drive future legislative or policy changes. , as the department must report recommendations to the governor and legislature—potentially shaping reforms in prison healthcare, facility design, and oversight for elderly prisoners.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Study Aging Prisoners' Needs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to finance
- 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.
Study Aging Prisoners' Treatment
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Latoya Joyner
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4743
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 22, 2019
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT authorizing a study by the New York state department of corrections and community supervision to study the treatment of aging prison populations and make recommendations for ensuring humane treatment of such populations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The department of corrections and community supervision shall undertake a study of the treatment, conditions and prevalence of aging prison populations and what plans, if any, such department has to provide for this increasing segment of the inmate population. The study shall include but not be limited to the following:
(a) a profile of the current elderly inmate population and statistics relating to its demographics including length and type of sentence, age at parole eligibility, race, gender, region of commitment, commitment crime and any other data that may describe such population;
(b) projected inmate populations for elderly inmates for the next five, ten and twenty years;
(c) factors contributing to the growth in the number and proportion of elderly inmates;
(d) whether, and to what extent, older prison populations are being provided with adequate or specialized housing, medical care, and specialized programs that respond to their unique needs and vulnerabilities, such as the need for wheelchair accessibility or accommodations relating to diminished mental or physical capacity, including a profile of such housing, medical care and programs currently provided to elderly inmates and a projection of such provisions that will be needed five, ten and twenty years hence;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00062-01-9
S. 4743 2
(e) provision of specialized training for corrections officers working with older inmates including what training is currently provided; and
(f) a profile of classification and facilities assigned to such inmates including what institutional oversight, if any, exists to ensure the welfare of older inmates within each correctional facility.
§ 2. The department of corrections and community supervision shall make a report to the governor and the legislature of the information required under section one of this act, its findings and conclusions, and any legislative recommendations it deems necessary no later than one year after the effective date of this act.
§ 3. To the maximum extent feasible, the department of corrections and community supervision shall be entitled to request and receive and shall utilize and be provided with such facilities, resources and data of any court, department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request to carry out properly its responsibilities pursuant to this act.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act authorizing a study by the New York state department of corrections and community supervision to study the treat- ment of aging prison populations and make recommendations for ensuring humane treatment of such populations
Summary of provisions
This legislation specifically authorizes the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to undertake a study of the treatment, condi- tions and prevalence of aging prison populations and issue findings pertaining to such populations. The study shall include an analysis of: factors contributing to the growth in the number of elderly prisoners, the extent to which elderly prisoners are being provided with adequate housing and medical care, the provision of specialized training of corrections officers, and the assigning oversight of older inmates to a specific official within each correctional facility. The Department shall issue its report within one year of the effective date of this law.
Justification
While the inmate population in New York has decreased dramatically in recent years through the advent of determinate sentencing, reforms to Rockefeller Drug Laws, increased use of alternatives to incarceration and expanded eligibility of shock incarceration, the population of inmates left behind in prison is aging rapidly.
Read the full memo (644 words)
At the end of 1992, we had a population of 61,376 inmates, 2,461, or 4%, of whom were elderly.
By the end of 2006, we had a population of 63,304 inmates, but the number of elderly inmates increased disproportionately to 6,945, or 11% of the total inmate population.
On May 1, 2015, we had a population that had decreased to 52,136 inmates and yet the number of elderly inmates was 9,926, or 17% of the inmate population.
The trend is clear. Under our current sentencing policies and parole board practices, the elderly inmate population will continue to grow. Unless we provide new release mechanisms to reduce the number of inmates who are too old, frail or infirm to pose a risk to safety, the alterna- tive is to plan for resources to meet the needs of a growing elderly population behind bars. In 2011, $33 million was spent to add 38 hospice beds to serve dying inmates placed in the Regional Medical Unit (RMU) at Walsh Medical Center located within the confines of Mohawk Correctional Facility in Oneida County. A Unit for the Cognitively Impaired located in Fishkill Correctional Facility's RMU utilizes professional caregivers to provide services to incarcerated individuals living with dementia. The average cost per bed at this unit is $93,000. More than double the $41,000 per bed in the general prison population. With 9,300 inmates elderly inmates currently, more is needed than just these two special- ized units.
The issue of aging people in prison is arguably a matter of economic urgency, a public health crisis, a violation of human rights or a reflection of the critical shortcomings of our criminal justice system, depending on the eyes of the beholder. All perspectives should agree, however, that the prison system, half of which was built more than a century ago, is not equipped to handle an increasingly aging population. With the rapid growth in the number of older prisoners being retained in prison it is essential for policymakers to fully understand how best to address the needs of a changing prison population.
Accordingly, any serious and sustainable attempt to resolve this crisis requires a multifaceted approach and cross-disciplinary discussion among experts. This legislation begins that process by requiring the Depart- ment to conduct a study of the challenges posed by the aging prison population, including a review of existing and necessary resources, and provide a report of its findings and its plan s to the legislature one year after the effective date of this bill.
Legislative history
OF BILL:
2017-18: S3396 - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE 2015-16: S.7719 - Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.