Bill > S05061

This bill establishes a five-year pilot program, managed by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) in partnership with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), the Office of Mental Health (OMH), and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), to help individuals prepare for and successfully reintegrate into the community after being released from correctional facilities, with the goal of reducing recidivism, or the rate at which formerly incarcerated individuals re-offend. The program will operate in three correctional facilities (one for women and two for men) and will enroll at least one hundred voluntary participants up to a year before their earliest expected release date, providing them with comprehensive screenings to identify needs in areas like mental health, substance use disorder treatment, education, and job readiness. Participants will also be connected with non-profit organizations and peer support to aid in their reintegration planning, which includes assistance with public benefits, referrals to treatment providers, job training, and housing searches, continuing these supports for up to an additional year after release to ensure a smoother transition back into society. The program also mandates annual reporting on its effectiveness, tracking key outcomes such as connections to and attainment of housing and employment, and access to mental health and substance abuse services, while clarifying that participation is voluntary and does not extend confinement beyond an individual's release date.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5061