Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to study gender disparity in resources provided to incarcerated individuals and make a report to the governor and the legislature of his or her findings, conclusions and recommendations.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9586
SPONSOR: Levenberg TITLE OF BILL:
An act directing the commissioner of corrections and community super-
vision to study gender disparity in resources provided to incarcerated
individuals
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this legislation is to direct the Commissioner of
Corrections and Community Supervision to study gender disparity in the
resources that are provided to incarcerated men and women so they will
be better prepared when they return to their communities.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 directs the commissioner of the Department of Corrections and
Community Supervision to study gender disparity in resources provided to
incarcerated individuals.
Section 2 states that the commissioner must report their findings to the
Governor and the Legislature no later than one year after the effective
date of this act.
Section 3 states the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
N/A
JUSTIFICATION:
As in recent years New York's prison population has declined, the number
of women in prison has only decked by 5%, while the number of men in
prison has declined by 10%.(1) According to the Bureau of Justice
Statistics (BJS), 77% of women will be arrested again after leaving
prison. Due to these trends, it is essential to determine whether there
are adequate resources in women's correctional facilities to ensure
their needs are being met and that they are being adequately prepared
for reintegration back into the community.
Programming in women's prisons has improved in recent years, although
there is insufficient evidence to determine whether these programs are
actually meeting the needs of women.(2) One study found that half of
women exiting prison felt that the programs and resources provided to
them did not adequately prepare them for their return into the communi-
ty.(3)
Furthermore, gender differences in prison programming hurt men as well
as women. Although men and women in prison are both likely to be parents
to dependent children, parental programs for example are predominantly
found in women's prisons.(4) Although many incarcerated men may benefit
from parenting classes, many are not able to access these programs.
There has not yet been a widespread study in New York analyzing gender
disparity in resources at state correctional facilities. Requiring this
study to be performed will better allow lawmakers to correct gender
disparities in New York State correctional facilities, in turn better
preparing both male and female incarcerated individuals for their return
to the community.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is new legislation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
The fiscal implication associated with the passage of this legislation
is unknown at this time.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
(1) https://www.prisonpolicy.orereports/women_ovettime.html
(2) https://www.usccr.gov/files/pubs/2020/02-26-Women-in-Prison.pdf
(3) https://www.usccr.gov/files/pubs/2020/02-26-Women-in-Prison.pdf
(4) haps://www.usccr.gov/files/pubs/2020/02-26-Women-in-Prison.pdf
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9586
IN ASSEMBLY
March 22, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LEVENBERG -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Correction
AN ACT directing the commissioner of corrections and community super-
vision to study gender disparity in resources provided to incarcerated
individuals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of corrections and community supervision
2 is authorized and directed to study gender disparity in resources
3 provided to incarcerated individuals. Such study shall include, but not
4 be limited to:
5 (a) what resources are made available to incarcerated individuals;
6 (b) the amount of such resources made available to incarcerated indi-
7 viduals of each gender;
8 (c) the reasons for any disparities found between the amount of
9 resources made available to incarcerated individuals of each gender;
10 (d) recommendations on actions that may be taken to resolve any
11 disparities found between the amount of resources made available to
12 incarcerated individuals of each gender; and
13 (e) any other related information that the commissioner may deem
14 necessary or relevant in carrying out this study.
15 § 2. The commissioner of corrections and community supervision shall
16 make a report to the governor and the legislature of his or her find-
17 ings, conclusions and recommendations no later than one year after the
18 effective date of this act and shall submit with this report such legis-
19 lative proposals as they deem necessary to implement their recommenda-
20 tions.
21 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13071-01-3
