BILL NUMBER: S4474

SPONSOR: MONTGOMERY
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the correction law, in relation to
persons received into the custody of the department of correctional
services

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::

This bill will require the department of correctional services to
collect information on the prior involvement with the child welfare and
juvenile justice systems of persons admitted to certain department
facilities

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS::

Section I amends subdivision of Section 29 of the correction law to
require the department of correctional services to collect information
on the prior involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice
systems of persons admitted to certain department facilities

              

 
JUSTIFICATION::

Both research and anecdotal data suggest a strong correlation between a
person's prior involvement in the child welfare and/or juvenile justice
system and the risk of future involvement with these systems and with
the adult correctional system. The Department of Correctional Services
(DOGS) currently collects data on the criminal histories; social, educa-
tional, and vocational circumstances; institutional, parole, and condi-
tional release programs and behavior; and ethnic backgrounds of persons
in Its custody. It does not; however, collect statistics on the prior
child Welfare and juvenile justice histories of persons in its custody.

This bill will require DOTS to collect and annually publish statistical
data on the prior involvement with the child welfare and juvenile
justice systems of persons admitted to department facilities.  The
collection and annual publication of these statistical data will)
provide critical information that can be used to make more effective and
efficient policy decisions regarding persons in DOGS' care.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE::

Thirty days after becoming a law.