Bill > A03781

This bill expands the powers and access of the Correctional Association of New York, a nonprofit organization founded in 1844 to provide independent monitoring of state prisons. The bill allows the association to visit correctional facilities at any time without advance notice, with up to 12 people in a visiting party (only 4 can enter special housing units simultaneously). The association gains extensive new rights, including the ability to conduct confidential interviews with correctional employees, administrators, and incarcerated individuals without department interference or potential retaliation. The bill also mandates that the department provide the association with quarterly detailed records on various aspects of correctional facilities, including admission data, custody information, programming, staffing levels, deaths, incidents, disciplinary actions, and grievances. Additionally, the association can now send confidential surveys to incarcerated individuals and employees, receive free confidential communications, and is guaranteed privileged correspondence status. The association is required to conduct facility inspections at least every five years and issue reports with recommendations to the governor, legislature, and public. The bill aims to enhance transparency and oversight of New York's correctional system by empowering an independent monitoring organization.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3781