File #: Int 1238-2025    Version: * Name: Provision of technology and support for people in custody with a pending criminal proceeding to securely receive and review evidence.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Criminal Justice
On agenda: 4/10/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the provision of technology and support for people in custody with a pending criminal proceeding to securely receive and review evidence
Sponsors: Jennifer Gutiérrez, Farah N. Louis
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Correction (DOC) to ensure all persons in custody with a pending criminal proceeding have the technology and support necessary to securely receive and review case evidence via a department-issued tablet or through access provided in the law library. The bill also requires the Board of Correction to produce a report which evaluates the department of correction’s ability to provide technological access to evidence review. The report will include recommendations for improvement and the department of correction must subsequently responde and indicate if it intends to adopt those recommendations.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1238, 2. Int. No. 1238, 3. April 10, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Committee Report 4/16/25, 5. Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 6. Fiscal Impact Statement - OMB

Int. No. 1238

 

By Council Members Gutiérrez and Louis

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the provision of technology and support for people in custody with a pending criminal proceeding to securely receive and review evidence

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 9 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 9-171 to read as follows:

§ 9-171 Evidence review technology and reporting.

a. By no later than six months after the effective date of this section, the department shall ensure all persons in custody, with a pending criminal proceeding, have the technology and support to securely receive and review evidence, including audio, text, and visual materials, either via department-issued tablet or though access provided to the law library in accordance with requirements set forth in section 1-08 of title 40 of the rules of the city of New York, regarding access to courts and legal services, or a successor provision.

b. By no later than one year after the effective date of this section, the board of correction shall submit to the department, the council and post on the board’s website, a report that evaluates the department’s ability to provide persons in custody technology and support to securely receive and review evidence. Such report shall incorporate direct feedback from people in custody and propose recommendations for improvements. The department shall respond to the board within 30 days of the receipt of such report and indicate if it intends adopt the recommendations and a timetable for doing so. The board may issue subsequent yearly reports in accordance with this subdivision until such time the board determines and indicates the department is fully compliant.

§ 3. This local law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

 

 

JW

LS#19299

3/31/25