What's happening
This bill prohibits the use of double-bunked housing for inmates in New York correctional facilities and requires their relocation.
Why it matters
Addresses inmate safety and well-being. by ending the use of double-bunked dormitory housing, which can contribute to overcrowding, increase the risk of violence, and negatively impact mental health.
Mandates immediate action. by requiring that all inmates currently in double-bunked accommodations be relocated to single-bunk or alternative housing, but specifically prohibits moving them to more restrictive environments (like solitary or higher-security units) unless there’s a clear justification.
Forces the Department of Corrections to adapt. by giving it authority to create or repeal rules and regulations as necessary, potentially requiring new investments in infrastructure, staffing, or the reconfiguration of existing spaces—impacting facility operations and budgets.
May set a precedent for correctional facility standards. , signaling a shift toward less crowded, more humane housing arrangements in line with national and international calls for prison reform.
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
Ban Prison Double-Bunking
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 32
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to rules
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
6582
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 17, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
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 ceiling opined "the practice of double bunking poses a number of security risks not necessarily associated with the practice of double ceiling. 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.