Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation that enacts 10 changes to New York’s state-run prisons and local jails.
The bill, A8871/S8415, comes after the murders of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi by corrections officers in prisons. The legislation aims to improve safety for incarcerated individuals and employees while increasing accountability through enhanced reporting and oversight.
The new legislation mandates audio and video coverage in all Department of Corrections and Community Supervision facilities and vehicles. State and local correctional facilities must disclose footage related to deaths to the Office of the Attorney General within 72 hours, or within 24 hours if belatedly discovered. Videos must be stored for extended periods and quickly disclosed to incarcerated individuals and their counsel, if needed…