Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to establish discharge plans and reentry services for wrongfully convicted individuals upon…

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic2

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

A wrongfully convicted individual has been found guilty and subsequently punished through legal proceedings but is later determined to be inno- cent of the crime for which they were convicted. Some wrongfully convicted individuals are sentenced to prison and spend years behind bars. This can happen for various reasons, including errors in the legal process, false evidence, coerced confessions, or the discovery of new evidence that clears the individual's name. A 2022 article by the Bronx Times stated that 331 people have been exon- erated in New York State in the last 33 years, and those are just the cases that have been recorded. Undoubtedly, individuals who were wrong- fully convicted of a crime are sitting in prisons across the state at any given moment. Wrongfully convicted individuals who are incarcerated face an unjust loss of freedom and potential damage to their lives. Currently, New York State law requires that DOCCS provide re-entry services only to some offenders, not including those who were wrongfully convicted. There- fore, individuals who were wrongfully convicted and released from jail are not offered any re-entry services. This bill will ensure that wrong- fully convicted individuals are provided essential services upon release, acknowledging the emotional, psychological, and practical hard- ships that they might experience. Individuals who spend time in prison for a crime they did not commit deserve the best resources and support to assist in their reintegration into society. The State must demonstrate its commitment to treating individuals with dignity and addressing their unique needs. Without proper support upon release, wrongfully convicted individuals might be at risk of falling into homelessness, mental and physical health chal- lenges, and challenges related to education and employment. By providing tailored discharge plans and reentry services, the bill seeks to promote successful reintegration and facilitate a smoother reentry process by ensuring access to housing, education, employment, medical care, and other social services, which can help these individuals rebuild their lives.

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.