Bill > S00886

This bill establishes comprehensive minimum standards for the treatment of incarcerated individuals in New York by incorporating the United Nations Nelson Mandela Rules into state law. The bill outlines several key rights and protections, including limiting solitary confinement to no more than 15 consecutive days, ensuring access to quality medical and dental care, creating a mechanism for confidential complaints without fear of retaliation, and providing incarcerated individuals with various fundamental rights. These rights include being placed in a facility close to their home community, receiving in-person visits, accessing legal aid, participating in vocational and educational programs, receiving individualized mental health treatment, and being fairly compensated for work. The bill also mandates adequate staff training, establishes independent oversight with full access to correctional facilities, and explicitly prohibits cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment. The Department of Corrections is required to develop specific rules and regulations to implement these standards, and the law will take effect one year after its passage, allowing time for preparation and implementation.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S886