BILL NUMBER: S5287
SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to authorizing home
confinement for certain incarcerated individuals during a declared state
of emergency
 
PURPOSE::
To permit home confinement for certain incarcerated individuals during a
declared state of emergency.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section 1 amends the corrections law by adding a new section 608.
Section 2 provides an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION::
COVID-19 hits hardest in dense population centers or clusters where
people gather in close proximity. It is advised to maintain social
distance of at least 6 feet to mitigate the possibility of contracting
the virus, but it is nearly impossible to do so in our correctional
facilities. The state's correctional facilities are notoriously over-
crowded, and thus, COVID-19 is spreading within New York's incarcerated
population at a much higher rate than the general population. It is time
to think of alternatives to confinement in our facilities to lower
congestion. Federal law already permits home confinement as an alterna-
tive. This bill will mirror the Federal law and permit the Commissioner
to place incarcerated individuals in home confinement, as an alternative
to confinement within facilities during times of a declared state of
emergency.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
S.4339 of 2023-2024; Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction;
S. 3181 of 2021-22: New bill, Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and
Correction
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
Will save the state money by lowering the prison population and lowering
medical costs for incarcerated people.
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
Immediately.