BILL NUMBER: S2898

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to authorizing daily
visitation at general confinement correctional facilities

 
PURPOSE:

To authorize daily visitation at all general confinement correctional
facilities

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new section 138-b to the correction law authorizing
daily visitation in general confinement correctional facilities.

Section 2 provides an effective date.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

Research has shown that inmates who receive visits from family, friends
and volunteers are significantly less likely to recidivate than inmates
who do not receive visits. DOCCS has long allowed visitation in its
facilities, although nothing in law requires them to do so. The SFY
2017-2018 Executive budget proposed to reduce visitation in maximum
security prisons from seven days a week to three days a week. Although
ultimately withdrawn, this proposal shone an unintended light on the
importance of visitation.

This bill codifies visitation rights for incarcerated individuals at all
general confinement correctional facilities, including medium security
facilities where visitation is now only offered on weekends.  The fiscal
impact of this bill is limited to its impact on medium security facili-
ties since maximum security facilities still retain daily visitation.

The money spent would be an investment in the laudable correctional
goals of institutional safety, inmate rehabilitation and public safety.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

Introduced into the Assembly 2018 (A.10359), first introduced in the
Senate 2019.
S.2689 of 2019-20; Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become law.