File #: Res 1492-2012    Version: * Name: Establish a pilot program to house incarcerated adults close to the primary residence of their minor children. (A.9475/S.6855)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services
On agenda: 9/12/2012
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the New York State Assembly to pass A.9475, the New York State Senate to pass companion bill S.6855, and the Governor to sign such legislation into law, which would establish a pilot program to house incarcerated adults close to the primary residence of their minor children.
Sponsors: Robert Jackson, Margaret S. Chin, Daniel Dromm , Vincent J. Gentile, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, Brad S. Lander, Deborah L. Rose, Jumaane D. Williams, Ydanis A. Rodriguez
Council Member Sponsors: 10
Res. No. 1492
 
 
Resolution calling on the New York State Assembly to pass A.9475, the New York State Senate to pass companion bill S.6855, and the Governor to sign such legislation into law, which would establish a pilot program to house incarcerated adults close to the primary residence of their minor children.
 
 
By Council Members Jackson, Chin, Dromm, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Lander, Rose, Williams and Rodriguez  
      Whereas, The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision ("DOCCS") is responsible for confinement and habilitation of approximately 56,000 prisoners each year; and
Whereas, Prisoners are currently housed in one of DOCCS' 60 correctional facilities located throughout New York State; and
      Whereas, According to DOCCS' annual Under Custody Report, on January 1, 2011, 59.5% of all New York State prison inmates were parents; and
      Whereas, According to the Correctional Association of New York, nearly 80,000 children have a parent in a New York State prison; and
      Whereas, Inmates are often placed in prisons far from their minor children, making it difficult for children to visit them; and
Whereas, Furthermore, DOCCS eliminated its longstanding free bus service to correctional facilities throughout the state in July 2011, which offered transportation to family members and friends of incarcerated individuals; and
Whereas, A.9475, currently pending in the New York State Assembly, and companion bill S.6855, currently pending in the New York State Senate, seek to amend the New York State Correction Law by establishing a pilot program that would house incarcerated adults close to the primary residence of their minor children; and
      Whereas, A.9475/S.6855 would permit the implementation of the pilot program in a facility of DOCCS' choosing, which would house prisoners who voluntarily agree to participate in the program; and
      Whereas, Additionally, A.9475/S.6855 would require an independent, academic analysis to determine the effectiveness of the pilot program and require DOCCS to submit an annual report to the New York State Legislature and the Governor regarding the efficacy of the pilot program as well as recommendations, if warranted, for expansion and improvement of the program; and
      Whereas, Such pilot program would afford easier access to incarcerated parents, help reduce the strain of separation between prisoner and child and promote family interaction between incarcerated adults and their minor children; now, therefore, be it
      Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Assembly to pass A.9475, the New York State Senate to pass companion bill S.6855, and the Governor to sign such legislation into law, which would establish a pilot program to house incarcerated adults close to the primary residence to their minor children.
WJH
LS 3546
6/6/12