Res. No. 1218
Resolution calling upon the New York State Assembly to pass A.8846, the New York State Senate to pass companion bill S.6077, and the Governor to sign such legislation into law, which would require the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to place incarcerated adults in correctional facilities located in proximity to the primary place of residence of such individuals' minor children.
By Council Members Crowley, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Dromm, Gentile, James, Koslowitz, Rose, Williams, Wills, Mark-Viverito 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, Approximately 48 percent of New York State's prisoners are from New York City while nearly 25 percent of the State's prison population is housed in facilities located in the City; and
Whereas, New York State is home to over 100,000 children with at least one parent currently in prison or jail; and
Whereas, According to the Council of State Governments Justice Center, fostering strong parent-child relationships may assist in children's adjustment to their parent's incarceration by lessening the harmful after effects for those children; and
Whereas, The majority of individuals from New York City who are remanded to DOCCS are housed in facilities far from their communities and families; and
Whereas, The recent closings of two state prisons located in New York City, the Fulton Correctional Facility in the Bronx and the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility on Staten Island, further reduce the number of beds available for New York City residents, who would be best served by incarceration close to their communities; 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.8846, currently pending in the New York State Assembly, and companion bill S.6077, currently pending in the New York State Senate, seek to amend the New York State Correction Law by requiring DOCCS to place individuals in their custody in correctional facilities located in proximity to the primary place of residence of such individuals' minor children provided such a placement would be reasonable, and would make it easier for such individuals to have contact with their children, and thus the legislation is in the child or children's best interest; and
Whereas, A.8846/S.6077 would require that DOCCS, in consultation with the New York State Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives as well as the Office of Children and Family Services, develop policies and procedures to determine whether proximity placement is in the best interest of the child or children; and
Whereas, A.8846/S.6077 aim to facilitate consistent, ongoing contact between prisoner and child in order to (i) reduce the strain of separation, (ii) lower recidivism, and (iii) foster family interaction leading to family reunification after a prison term; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Assembly to pass A.8846, the New York State Senate to pass companion bill S.6077, and the Governor to sign such legislation into law, which would require the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to place incarcerated adults in correctional facilities located in proximity to the primary place of residence of such individuals' minor children.
WJH
LS 2828
1/23/12