BILL NUMBER: S2059

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to procedures for the
conduct of the work of the state board of parole

 
PURPOSE:

Provides that the Board of Parole shall grant parole to an inmate who
successfully completes two or more years of a temporary release program.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 259-i(2) of the executive law to provide that
an inmate who successfully completes two years in a temporary release
program shall be released to parole.

Section 2 provides for an effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Some carefully screened inmates are permitted to participate in work
release programs. An inmate on work release generally works in his or
her home community but must return to prison for nights or weekends or
for simple reporting purposes. Inmates on work release hold down jobs
but turn their wages over to the superintendents of their correctional
facilities to cover any restitution due, child support, commissary
expenses and to defray the cost to the Department of the work release
program. Any remaining wages they earn are put into savings accounts and
given to them upon their release from prison.

While most inmates who successfully complete work release are granted
parole when they appear before the Board, some are denied parole because
of the nature of their crimes. Any inmate who has successfully completed
two or more years of work release without violating the rules should be
granted parole because he or she has a demonstrated ability to live and
work in the community while abiding by a strict code of conduct. Under
community supervision, he or she will still be supervised by DOCCS and
will have to report to a community supervision officer on a regular
basis. Successful participation in a temporary release program should
provide a path to release from custody.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

Assembly bill A.4047 of 2018.
S.2693 of 2019-20; Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Will save money by providing a step down from incarceration to parole
for individuals on work release.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately