New York City Council     Members
  • Filed (End of Session)

History

City Council
Filed (End of Session)
City Council
Referred to Comm by Council
City Council
Introduced by Council

Res. No. 1482

 

Resolution calling on the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to enhance reentry services and programs for older incarcerated adults.

 

By Council Member Dromm and Gentile

 

Whereas, The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision ("DOCCS") is responsible for improving public safety by providing a continuity of appropriate treatment services in safe and secure facilities where all inmates' needs are addressed and they are prepared for release to facilitate a successful completion of their sentence; and

Whereas, DOCCS houses a daily population of approximately 51,500 and oversees approximately 35,500 parolees, statewide; and

Whereas, Correctional reentry is the process by which incarcerated individuals return to the community with all necessary resources helping them to successfully reintegrate back into society as productive and law abiding citizens; and

Whereas, DOCCS offers several programs including their transitional services program to  assist inmates throughout the stages of their incarceration to fully participate in programs designed to prepare them for a successful reentry to the community as  law abiding and productive citizens; and

Whereas, According to The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, incarceration has a significant and lasting impact on older Americans’ work and retirement experiences; and

Whereas, Reentry services should aim to better equip older incarcerated adults with life skills, such as education in the advancement of technologies, that can help them better gain employment upon their release; and

Whereas, The State could greatly benefit economically from enhanced reentry services targeting the older adult population by seeing an increase in post-release employment from this population; and

Whereas, Enhancing reentry services and programs for older incarcerated adults would

help reduce recidivism, which can have profound collateral consequences, including public health risks, homelessness, unemployment, and disenfranchisement; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to enhance reentry services and programs for older incarcerated adults.

WJH

5/5/17

LS 10495