Relates to available transportation for correction facility visitation

• Democratic15

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Luis R. Sepúlveda says this is needed

From 1973 to 2011, DOCCS provided free transportation to its prisons to help families stay connected with incarcerated loved ones. Bus service ran on weekends from NYC, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and Albany to every prison in the state. This service, unmatched by any other state corrections department, was relied upon by families who often lived far from the prisons they visited and who lacked the financial means to make such trips on their own. In early 2011, the program was terminated to save a little less than $1.5 million. Family visits contribute to facility safety because they motivate pris- oners to complete programs and follow facility rules. Research shows that visits are an important component of managing prisoner behavior, reducing recidivism and promoting positive parent-child relationships. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Corrections found that inmates who receive a single visit have a 13% reduction in recidivism compared to inmates who do not receive any visits. Visits also facili- tate reentry because families are often the primary source of support for housing, clothes, food and other necessities when a person is released from prison. The impact of visitation on recidivism has signif- icant cost implications, given the annual prison cost in NY is $60K per person. DOCCS should focus on increasing visitation, not making it more difficult. For children with incarcerated parents, in-person visits have a positive impact on their emotional well-being and future life outcomes. In 2011, DOCCS reported that 72% of women and 62% of men in prison were parents. This suggests the impact of their incarceration is felt by a significant number of children. For children, visits with their incarcerated parents have proven beneficial on a number of levels and are associated with higher self-esteem, improved non-verbal IQ scores, better adjustment to school and foster care and fewer behavior problems. Increased contact between parents and children may have upfront costs, such as the bus program, but offer long-term benefits to society and to families.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.