NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6477
SPONSOR: Septimo TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
office of reentry services within the division of criminal justice
services
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This amendment to the executive law will require the division of crimi-
nal justice services to establish an office of reentry services to
establish, promote, and lead programs that reduce incarcerated individ-
uals' likelihood of reoffending.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 837, article 35 of the executive law: requires the division of
criminal justice services to establish an office of reentry services.
Section 2: Requires the office of reentry services to be responsible for
providing reentry programming and support to incarcerated individuals
residing in the state to decrease the likelihood that they will re-of-
fend and return to prison or jail. The office will establish reentry
programs, including a transition plan program in state and local facili-
ties, and maintain a transition resource directory.
Section 3 and 4: describes the appropriation for the office of reentry
services and establishes this bill's effective date, respectively.
JUSTIFICATION:
Establishing a comprehensive reentry program for incarcerated people is
a necessary step towards a criminal justice system capable of keeping
New York communities safe. The 25,000 incarcerated people released in
New York per year need a way to earn a living, legally.(1)
Unfortunately, formerly incarcerated individuals face high rates of
unemployment,homelessness, and poverty.(2) Two out of Five people
released from prison return to New York City pre-destined to be home-
less. Empirical studies demonstrate that when reentry programs, espe-
cially substance abuse and mental health treatment, are available to
incarcerated people they are far more likely to reintegrate successful-
ly.(3) However, the existing pathways for formerly incarcerated New
Yorkers to get treatment, work, and housing can only accommodate a frac-
tion of the people reintegrating into society.(4) At large, many will
reoffend and be reincarcerated.(5) Without addressing this issue, it
leaves formerly incarcerated individuals facing chal- lenges to produc-
tive members of society. This will help family members of those formerly
incarcerated start a journey of healing versus facing more hardship than
needed.(6) In order for members of society to reintegrate, they need to
have an opportunity to meet six basics-livelihood, residence, family,
health, criminal justice compliance, and social connections. With
already having criminal compliance, there is a strong need to establish
a reentry program to gain skills and mechanisms to reintegrate into the
real world by helping obtain social connections,residency, livelihood,
family, and health. The Recidivism Reduction Act addresses the ongoing
challenges people may face when they are released from prisons and
jails. The establishment of an Office of Reentry Services will create,
administer, and support reentry programs and services in every state, in
addition to the county correctional facility and in communities. The
sole purpose of the office will be to facilitate transition and prevent
re-incarceration, encouraging and assisting formerly incarcerated
peoples' efforts to live lawfully upon release.
The Office of Reentry Services will save taxpayers money. The average
cost of imprisonment on the federal level is $40,000, per year, and most
states pay approximately between $14,000 and $70,000.(7) Counties and
community organizations can meet their local population's need for
reentry support services with the backing of the state's Office of
Reentry Services. As jail populations decrease, counties can obtain
savings and reinvest money into their communities. We must choose to
invest in people and not prison cells.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Introduced in 2024
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January following the date on
which it shall have become a law.
(1) https://www.cssny.orginews/entry/an-effective-policy- to-cut-reci-
divism
(2) https://www.gothamgazette.com/state/11353-new-york- prison-shelter-
pipeline
(3) bttps://trumpwhit-house.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads
/2018/05/Retums-on-Investments-in-RecidivismReducing-Programs.pdf
(4) https://www.lac.org/resource/blueprint-for- criminal-justice-re-
form-for-nyc
(5) https://doccs.v.gov/system/files/documents
/2022/10/2016-releases-three-v ear-post-release-follow-up-final-.ndf
(6) https://online.simmons.edu/blog/prisoner-reentry/
(7) https://interrogatingjustice.org/ending-mass-incarceration
annual-prison-costs-going-into-2023/
