Nozzolio Bill Signed Into Law Prohibits For-profit Prisons In New York

Albany— Continuing his efforts to ensure the continued, safe operation of New York's correctional facilities, State Senator Michael Nozzolio, Chairman of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, today announced that legislation (S. 4118) he sponsored to prohibit the private operation of New York's correctional facilities has been signed into New York State law.

"Public safety should never be linked to private-sector profit motives. This legislation would prohibit the private ownership or operation of our correctional facilities and ensure that New York State continues to have full responsibility of its correctional facilities," said Senator Nozzolio, whose committee oversees the operation of prisons in New York. “The privatization of prisons has been tried in other States and has consistently failed.”

The new law will require that the custody and supervision of persons detained in a State or local correctional facility be exercised by New York’s correctional officers, and would prohibit the private ownership or operation of these facilities.

"The brave men and women currently employed in our correctional facilities are highly skilled, trained and qualified to maintain a high level of security in our prisons and we must continue to support them in their efforts. Every day, these individuals go to work and place their personal safety on the line in order to ensure not only the safety of our correctional facilities, but the safety of our communities," Nozzolio added.

"As one who has led the fight to improve the safety and security of our correctional facilities and enhance support and benefits for our correction officers and staff, I remain committed to doing all that I can to ensure that New York State continues to promote and advance initiatives such as these which serve the best interests of our correctional facilities and the men and women who work there," Nozzolio concluded.

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