Directs the department of corrections and community supervision to test a program of supplying inmates with tablets for educational and recreational means.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1031
SPONSOR: Walker TITLE OF BILL:
An act directing the department of corrections and community supervision
to test a program of supplying inmates with tablets for educational and
recreational means
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To direct DOCCS to conduct a pilot program to test the benefits of
allowing inmates the use of tablets that are secure-email enabled and
which also provide educational and recreational software.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 contains legislative findings.
Section 2 directs DOCCS to conduct a pilot program.
Section 3 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The Federal prison system and several other states provide inmates with
electronic tablets that provide a secure, monitored email program and a
variety of educational and recreational software. The software is
preloaded based on the selection by the facility or the department. The
tablets do not have Internet capability.
These tablets have been found to have a positive effect on the inmate
population, improving morale, reducing idle time and increasing inmate
communication with their families, their attorneys, and members of their
communities. Educational software available ranges from remedial academ-
ic programming to parenting classes to vocational training to TED talks
and life skill coaching. Currently inmates must purchase music on audio
cassettes; tablets would replace that obsolete technology. An additional
benefit includes reduced inmate mail volume and thus a reduced risk of
contraband being introduced to the facility through such mail. Tablets
can also be used to improve internal communications with inmates by
correctional staff and to facilitate the management of inmate financial
accounts.
Tablets have the support of corrections officers and institutional
personnel in more than eleven states and in the Federal Bureau of Pris-
ons because they provide a powerful incentive for positive behavior
which improves institutional safety for staff and inmates.alike. Paid
for by inmates, tablets with secure email provide many benefits and no
drawbacks. A pilot program is the perfect way to explore the use and
benefits of inmate tablets in the New York State Department of
Corrections.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2017-2018: A3820 - Referred to Ways and Means
2019-2020: A6274 - Referred to Correction
2021-2022: A4466 - Referred to Correction
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1031
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WALKER, SIMON, WEPRIN -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT directing the department of corrections and community supervision
to test a program of supplying inmates with tablets for educational
and recreational means
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative finding. The bureau of prisons offers secure
2 email service to all federal inmates nationwide. County jails in numer-
3 ous states have found that granting inmates access to tablets with
4 educational and recreational programs including secure email reduces
5 idle time, improves morale and increases inmate productivity. Therefore,
6 the legislature finds that it would be beneficial for the department of
7 corrections and community supervision operate a pilot program to test
8 the benefit of providing secure email and other electronic programs to
9 inmates.
10 § 2. The department of corrections and community supervision shall
11 develop and implement a pilot program to test the benefit of a tablet-
12 based portfolio of educational and recreation programs, including a
13 secured email program, to improve inmate communication with his or her
14 family, attorney, community members and organizations, and with the
15 department itself. Such pilot program shall include no fewer than thirty
16 non-internet based tablet devices providing a secure email communication
17 program in addition to educational and recreational programs which
18 consider the unique needs and circumstances of the inmate population
19 including factors related to health, age, education, religion, voca-
20 tional training and other determining characteristics as the department
21 may deem appropriate. One year after the department shall have commenced
22 the pilot program the department shall issue a report to the governor
23 and the legislature on the impact of the pilot program on facility safe-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04595-01-3
A. 1031 2
1 ty, inmate behavior and performance, and other indicators of the value
2 of providing such tablet-based devices in the correctional setting.
3 § 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
4 law.
