Bill > A08745

This bill amends the New York Correction Law to introduce a new provision that allows for an adverse inference against a Department of Corrections and Community Supervision officer's testimony during disciplinary proceedings if the officer violated department rules by disabling or preventing a facility camera or body-worn camera from recording the incident in question. In legal terms, an "adverse inference" means that when a camera is deliberately turned off or prevented from recording, the court or disciplinary panel can assume that the evidence would have been unfavorable to the officer's account of events. This provision is designed to encourage accountability and transparency among corrections officers by creating a legal consequence for intentionally obstructing video documentation. The bill will go into effect 90 days after it becomes law, which means it will apply to disciplinary proceedings involving camera tampering that occur after that date. By creating this legal mechanism, the bill aims to protect the rights of incarcerated individuals and ensure more accurate and reliable documentation of incidents within correctional facilities.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8745