S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7407--A
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 8, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Correction -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted
as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT authorizing a study by the New York state department of
corrections and community supervision to study the treatment of aging
prison populations and make recommendations for ensuring humane treat-
ment of such populations
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. The department of corrections and community supervision
2 shall undertake a study of the treatment, conditions and prevalence of
3 aging prison populations and what plans, if any, such department has to
4 provide for this increasing segment of the inmate population. The study
5 shall include but not be limited to the following:
6 (a) a profile of the current elderly inmate population and statistics
7 relating to its demographics including length and type of sentence, age
8 at parole eligibility, race, gender, region of commitment, commitment
9 crime and any other data that may describe such population;
10 (b) projected inmate populations for elderly inmates for the next
11 five, ten and twenty years;
12 (c) factors contributing to the growth in the number and proportion of
13 elderly inmates;
14 (d) whether, and to what extent, older prison populations are being
15 provided with adequate or specialized housing, medical care, and
16 specialized programs that respond to their unique needs and vulnerabili-
17 ties, such as the need for wheelchair accessibility or accommodations
18 relating to diminished mental or physical capacity, including a profile
19 of such housing, medical care and programs currently provided to elderly
20 inmates and a projection of such provisions that will be needed five,
21 ten and twenty years hence;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10541-02-5
A. 7407--A 2
1 (e) provision of specialized training for corrections officers working
2 with older inmates including what training is currently provided; and
3 (f) a profile of classification and facilities assigned to such
4 inmates including what institutional oversight, if any, exists to ensure
5 the welfare of older inmates within each correctional facility.
6 S 2. The department of corrections and community supervision shall
7 make a report to the governor and the legislature of the information
8 required under section one of this act, its findings and conclusions,
9 and any legislative recommendations it deems necessary no later than one
10 year after the effective date of this act.
11 S 3. To the maximum extent feasible, the department of corrections and
12 community supervision shall be entitled to request and receive and shall
13 utilize and be provided with such facilities, resources and data of any
14 court, department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the
15 state or any political subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request
16 to carry out properly its responsibilities pursuant to this act.
17 S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.