Bill > S03978

This bill establishes emergency release protocols for incarcerated individuals during a state disaster emergency that threatens the lives, health, or well-being of people in custody. Specifically, the commissioner of corrections would be authorized to release certain inmates to community supervision under three key conditions: (1) individuals within two years of their earliest release date who are immunocompromised, have a disability, have a stable living situation, and do not pose an unreasonable public safety risk; (2) pregnant individuals or those in prison nursery programs who meet similar safety and stability criteria; and (3) inmates over 55 years old who have completed at least half their sentence and demonstrate low public safety risk. Released individuals would remain under community supervision for the remainder of their sentence, with the potential for supervision termination based on existing legal guidelines. The bill aims to protect vulnerable populations in correctional facilities during crisis situations by providing a structured mechanism for strategic, risk-assessed early release.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3978