What's happening
This bill requires the Department of Corrections to provide free, regular transportation for visitors to correctional facilities from major New York cities.
Why it matters
Reduces barriers for families and friends of incarcerated individuals. by making it easier and more affordable to visit loved ones in prison, which can help maintain crucial social and family bonds that support rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.
Addresses geographic and economic inequalities. since many New York correctional facilities are located far from urban centers, and travel costs can be prohibitive for low-income families—especially those from the five specified cities.
Promotes transparency and awareness. by requiring the Department of Corrections to publicly post transportation information online and via phone, and to notify inmates about these services, ensuring people are informed of their visitation options.
Could impact facility operations and inmate wellbeing. as increased visitation is often linked to improved mental health outcomes for incarcerated people and may enhance overall facility morale and behavior.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Prison Visit Transportation
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.595
- Reported and committed to finance
- Print number 731a
- Amend and recommit 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.
Free Prison Visit Transportation
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Carmen De La Rosa
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
731--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sens. MONTGOMERY, BENJAMIN, SALAZAR, SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to available transportation for correction facility visitation
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 138-b to read as follows:
§ 138-b. Visitor transportation. In conjunction with the inmate visiting program, the department shall provide transportation for visitors to correctional facilities on a regular basis, but no less than bimonthly, at no cost to visitors. Transportation shall be provided from the city of New York, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and Albany to correctional facilities, as determined by the commissioner. Information concerning transportation shall be posted on the department's public website, and shall be available from the telephone number designated, pursuant to section one hundred thirty-eight-a of this article. Notice of available transportation shall be provided to inmates upon reception and upon transfer to a new correctional facility.
§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03542-04-9
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 available transportation for correction facility visitation
Purpose
To restore transportation for visitors from certain cities to state correctional facilities
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds a new section 138-b to the correction law. Section 2 provides an effective date.
Justification
From 1973 to 2011, DOCCS provided free transportation to its prisons to help families stay connected with incarcerated loved ones. Bus service ran on weekends from NYC, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and Albany to every prison in the state. This service, unmatched by any other state corrections department, was relied upon by families who often lived far from the prisons they visited and who lacked the financial means to make such trips on their own. In early 2011, the program was terminated to save a little less than $1.5 million.
Family visits contribute to facility safety because they motivate pris- oners to complete programs and follow facility rules. Research shows that visits are an important component of managing prisoner behavior, reducing recidivism and promoting positive parent-child relationships. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Corrections found that inmates who receive a single visit have a 13% reduction in recidivism compared to inmates who do not receive any visits. Visits also facili- tate reentry because families are often the primary source of support for housing, clothes, food and other necessities when a person is released from prison. The impact of visitation on recidivism has signif- icant cost implications, given the annual prison cost in NY is $60K per person. DOCCS should focus on increasing visitation, not making it more difficult.
For children with incarcerated parents, in-person visits have a positive impact on their emotional well-being and future life outcomes. In 2011, DOCCS reported that 72% of women and 62% of men in prison were parents. This suggests the impact of their incarceration is felt by a significant number of children. For children, visits with their incarcerated parents have proven beneficial on a number of levels and are associated with higher self-esteem, improved non-verbal IQ scores, better adjustment to school and foster care and fewer behavior problems. Increased contact between parents and children may have upfront costs, such as the bus program, but offer long-term benefits to society and to families.
Fiscal implications
Approximately $1.5 million
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.