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A04319 Summary:

BILL NOA04319B
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORWeprin
 
COSPNSRTaylor, Gottfried, Epstein, Lentol, Lavine, Rosenthal D, Seawright, De La Rosa, Simon, Rozic, Lupardo, Hevesi, Joyner, Carroll, Fahy, Kim, Cook, Aubry, Perry, O'Donnell, Wright, Rosenthal L, Reyes, Walker, Quart, Simotas, Jaffee, Niou
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd §259-c, Exec L
 
Relates to parole eligibility for certain inmates age fifty-five or older.
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A04319 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4319B
 
SPONSOR: Weprin
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the executive law, in relation to parole eligibility for certain inmates aged fifty-five or older   PURPOSE: To create a process to evaluate older prisoners to determine whether they pose a significant public safety risk.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 adds a new subdivision 18 to section 259-c of the executive law. Section 2 provides an effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: The number of older inmates in our prison system is rising every year even as the total inmate population is falling. The population of state prisoners over the age of 50 has increased by 81 percent since 2000. On January 1, 2007, there were 63,304 inmates in the prison system, with an average age of 36.5. On that date there were 1,572 inmates in the system over 60 years of age. Ten years later, on January 1, 2016, there were 52,344 inmates in state correctional facilities, 2,389 of whom were over the age of 60, and the average age had risen to 38.2. The number of inmates over 60 rose from 2.5 percent of the prison population in 2007 to 4.6 percent in 2016. Longer minimum sentences since the 1980's and lower parole release rates since the 1990's ensure that our prison popu- lation will continue to age over the coming years, forcing the prison system to open more geriatric nursing care units and expand the existing resources for inmates suffering from dementia, diabetes, heart disease and other physical and cognitive disabilities relating to old age. Crimes are largely committed by young people. Older inmates who have served long sentences present the lowest risk of recidivism of any other class of inmates. This bill permits the Board of Parole to evaluate inmates over the age of 55 who have served at least 15 years in prison for possible parole release. It does not mandate release, but allows the Board to make a public safety assessment to see whether an elderly inmate is safe to be released to parole supervision even if he or she has not completed his or her minimum sentence and to have the discretion to grant such release.   LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 01/03/18 referred to correction 03/14/18 amend (t) and recommit to correction 03/14/18 print number 6354a 06/04/18 reported referred to codes   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: This bill will save the state money if it results in an increase in the release rate of older prisoners who might otherwise need expensive medical care and specialized housing within the prison system.   LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None   EFFECTIVE DATE: One hundred and eighty days after the act becomes law.
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