Relates to the health, safety and human rights of incarcerated pregnant individuals, incarcerated birthing parents and their children; requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to establish rules and regulations relating to conditions in institutions and correctional facilities and the treatment and care of birthing parents in such institutions and facilities.
Bill A 2266 requires state agencies operating prisons and youth detention facilities to provide incarcerated individuals with free voice communication services (and optionally video or messaging), effective April 1, 2026. It prohibits facilities from charging inmates for these services or generating revenue from them, and mandates that communication services cannot replace in-person visit programs. The bill repeals the existing correction law section on this topic and adds new requirements for agencies managing correctional facilities. This directly affects all people confined in state correctional facilities by guaranteeing free communication access with external contacts.
Bill S 2240 removes the lifetime ban that prevents individuals with felony convictions from serving on a jury. It amends existing judiciary law to eliminate the automatic disqualification for past felony convictions. However, the bill clarifies that anyone currently serving a term of incarceration for a felony would still be excused from jury service while incarcerated. This change allows eligible citizens who have completed their sentences to participate in jury duty.
This bill, known as "the prison wage act," mandates compensation for incarcerated individuals performing labor in state and local correctional facilities. It requires that these individuals be paid at least one-half of the state's minimum wage for any work performed or for which a wage would typically be due. This compensation applies to various types of labor, including general facility work, tasks for nonprofit organizations, and participation in work release programs. Additionally, hourly incentive allowances for educational and training programs must also meet this minimum wage standard.
Requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to identify and eliminate all surveillance dead zones in correctional facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.
Requires justices of the supreme court, judges of the county court and judges of the court of claims, regularly sitting in a criminal term or in a term with criminal as well as civil jurisdiction to visit the correctional facility with the highest population of incarcerated individuals in the county in which such justice is appointed or elected within two years of such appointment or election and every two years thereafter; requires a report on the conditions of such correctional facility.
This bill requires courts to mandate alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs for first-time offenders convicted of drunk driving (specifically violations of Vehicle and Traffic Law sections 1192 or 1192-a). It directly affects individuals with no prior similar convictions who are sentenced for these offenses. Courts must require attendance at approved rehab programs as part of sentencing, with eligibility excluding those who recently participated in similar programs or have prior violations. Completion of the program can terminate any prison sentence imposed for the offense.
This bill requires correctional facilities to receive foster care records for incarcerated individuals who were previously in foster care. Specifically, it mandates that the Department of Correction obtain records detailing when a person entered foster care and the duration of that care, then deliver copies to the correctional facility housing them. This applies to all correctional facilities, including juvenile detention centers, and directly affects incarcerated individuals with foster care histories. The policy change ensures facilities have this background information to support appropriate care and programming.
Relates to prohibiting civilian drone use within 500 feet of a correctional facility except when in use under the Federal Aviation Administration's authorization.
Provides for the review of policies and practices pertaining to infectious disease outbreaks in correctional facilities, including the treatment and prevention of the disease among incarcerated individuals and staff.
