S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4290
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 4, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, O'DONNELL -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the correction law, in relation to
consideration of discretionary release
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph (c) of subdivision 2 of
section 259-i of the executive law, as amended by chapter 130 of the
laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
(A) Discretionary release on parole shall not be granted merely as a
reward for good conduct or efficient performance of duties while
confined but after considering if there is a reasonable probability
that, if such inmate is released, he will live and remain at liberty
without violating the law, and that his release is not incompatible with
the welfare of society [and will not so deprecate the seriousness of his
crime as to undermine respect for law]. In making the parole release
decision, the procedures adopted pursuant to subdivision four of section
two hundred fifty-nine-c of this article shall require that the follow-
ing be considered: (i) the institutional record including program goals
and accomplishments, academic achievements, vocational education, train-
ing or work assignments, therapy and interactions with staff and
inmates; (ii) performance, if any, as a participant in a temporary
release program; (iii) release plans including community resources,
employment, education and training and support services available to the
inmate; (iv) any deportation order issued by the federal government
against the inmate while in the custody of the department and any recom-
mendation regarding deportation made by the commissioner of the depart-
ment pursuant to section one hundred forty-seven of the correction law;
(v) any current or prior statement made to the board by the crime victim
or the victim's representative, where the crime victim is deceased or is
mentally or physically incapacitated; (vi) the length of the determinate
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07212-01-9
A. 4290 2
sentence to which the inmate would be subject had he or she received a
sentence pursuant to section 70.70 or section 70.71 of the penal law for
a felony defined in article two hundred twenty or article two hundred
twenty-one of the penal law; (vii) the seriousness of the offense with
due consideration to the type of sentence, length of sentence and recom-
mendations of the sentencing court, the district attorney, the attorney
for the inmate, the pre-sentence probation report as well as consider-
ation of any mitigating and aggravating factors, and activities follow-
ing arrest prior to confinement; and (viii) prior criminal record,
including the nature and pattern of offenses, adjustment to any previous
probation or parole supervision and institutional confinement. The board
shall provide toll free telephone access for crime victims. In the case
of an oral statement made in accordance with subdivision one of section
440.50 of the criminal procedure law, the parole board member shall
present a written report of the statement to the parole board. A crime
victim's representative shall mean the crime victim's closest surviving
relative, the committee or guardian of such person, or the legal repre-
sentative of any such person. Such statement submitted by the victim or
victim's representative may include information concerning threatening
or intimidating conduct toward the victim, the victim's representative,
or the victim's family, made by the person sentenced and occurring after
the sentencing. Such information may include, but need not be limited
to, the threatening or intimidating conduct of any other person who or
which is directed by the person sentenced. Any statement by a victim or
the victim's representative made to the board shall be maintained by the
department in the file provided to the board when interviewing the
inmate in consideration of release. A victim or victim's representative
who has submitted a written request to the department for the transcript
of such interview shall be provided such transcript as soon as it
becomes available.
§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 259-r of the executive
law, as amended by section 38-l of subpart A of part C of chapter 62 of
the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Such release shall be granted only after the board considers
whether, in light of the inmate's medical condition, there is a reason-
able probability that the inmate, if released, will live and remain at
liberty without violating the law, and that such release is not incom-
patible with the welfare of society [and will not so deprecate the seri-
ousness of the crime as to undermine respect for the law], and shall be
subject to the limits and conditions specified in subdivision four of
this section. Except as set forth in paragraph (a) of this subdivision,
such release may be granted at any time during the term of an inmate's
sentence, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
§ 3. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 259-s of the executive
law, as amended by section 38-m of subpart A of part C of chapter 62 of
the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Such release shall be granted only after the board considers
whether, in light of the inmate's medical condition, there is a reason-
able probability that the inmate, if released, will live and remain at
liberty without violating the law, and that such release is not incom-
patible with the welfare of society [and will not so deprecate the seri-
ousness of the crime as to undermine respect for the law], and shall be
subject to the limits and conditions specified in subdivision four of
this section. In making this determination, the board shall consider:
(i) the nature and seriousness of the inmate's crime; (ii) the inmate's
prior criminal record; (iii) the inmate's disciplinary, behavioral and
A. 4290 3
rehabilitative record during the term of his or her incarceration; (iv)
the amount of time the inmate must serve before becoming eligible for
release pursuant to section two hundred fifty-nine-i of this article;
(v) the current age of the inmate and his or her age at the time of the
crime; (vi) the recommendations of the sentencing court, the district
attorney and the victim or the victim's representative; (vii) the nature
of the inmate's medical condition, disease or syndrome and the extent of
medical treatment or care that the inmate will require as a result of
that condition, disease or syndrome; and (viii) any other relevant
factor. Except as set forth in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, such
release may be granted at any time during the term of an inmate's
sentence, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
§ 4. Subdivision 2 of section 273 of the correction law, as amended by
section 1 of part SS of chapter 56 of the laws of 2009, is amended to
read as follows:
2. The commission shall review and make a determination on each appli-
cation within thirty days of receipt of such application. No determi-
nation granting or denying such application shall be valid unless made
by a majority vote of at least three commission members present. No
release shall be granted unless there is a reasonable probability that,
if such inmate is released, he or she shall live and remain at liberty
without violating the law, and that his or her release is not incompat-
ible with the welfare of society [and shall not so deprecate the seri-
ousness of his or her crime as to undermine respect for law].
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.