Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S1623
Timestamp: 2020-07-04 02:54:43
Document Index: 383606952

Matched Legal Cases: ['§137', '§  2', '§  3', '§  4', '§  5', '§  6', '§ 7', '§ 8', '§  9', '§ 10', '§ 11', '§  12', '§  13', '§ 500', '§ 14']

NY State Senate Bill S1623
senate Bill S1623
Restricts the use of segregated confinement and creates alternative therapeutic and rehabilitative confinement options
Get Status Alerts for S1623
Jan 08, 2020 referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Jan 28, 2019 advanced to third reading
Jan 23, 2019 2nd report cal.
Jan 22, 2019 1st report cal.24
Jan 15, 2019 referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Jan 22, 2019 - Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee Vote
Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee Vote: Jan 22, 2019
S1623 (ACTIVE) - Details
Amd §§137, 138, 2, 401, 401-a, 500-k & 45, Cor L
2013-2014: S6466, A8588
2015-2016: S2659, A4401
2017-2018: S3824, S4784, A3080
S1623 (ACTIVE) - Summary
Restricts the use of segregated confinement and creates alternative therapeutic and rehabilitative confinement options; limits the length of time a person may be in segregated confinement and excludes certain persons from being placed in segregated confinement.
S1623 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S1623
SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to restricting the use
of segregated confinement and creating alternative therapeutic and reha-
bilitative confinement options
This bill will be known as the "Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Soli-
tary Confinement" Act (the HALT Solitary Confinement Act.) This bill
would limit the time an inmate can spend in segregated confinement, end
the segregated confinement of vulnerable people, restrict the criteria
that can result in such confinement, improve conditions of confinement,
and create more humane and effective alternatives to such confinement.
Section 1 clarifies that the bill's provisions apply to all types and
locations of segregated confinement.
Section 2 defines "special populations" and "residential rehabilitation
units".
Section 3 prohibits the use of special diets as punishment.
Section 4 provides for mental health screening and a heightened level of
care for prisoners placed into segregated confinement or residential
rehabilitation units.
Section 5 prohibits placement of individuals who are in one of the
special populations in SHU and limits their keep-lock placement to 48
hours; prohibits placement of any inmate in segregated confinement for
more than 15 consecutive days or 20 out of 60 days unless specific acts
are committed while in such confinement; specifies certain conditions of
confinement and programs within residential rehabilitation units;
creates a safety exception for people committing serious disciplinary
infractions in SHU and residential rehabilitation units; prohibits the
use of restraints in the residential rehabilitation units unless neces-
sary for safety and security; prohibits placement of individuals in
protective custody in segregated confinement; provides for periodic
review of a person's placement in residential rehabilitation units;
reinstates lost good time for successful completion of the residential
rehabilitation unit program goals; provides for training of staff; and
provides for public reporting.
Section 6 creates a preference for non-disciplinary interventions by the
Section 7 provides that services in residential mental health treatment
units shall be at least comparable to services in residential rehabili-
tation units.
Section 8 provides that inmates in residential mentiilh'e4th treatment
units may be moved to residential rehabilitation units under certain
Section 9 limits the removal of inmates with mental illness from resi-
dential mental health units to residential rehabilitation units unless
they commit specified acts of misconduct.
Section 10 provides for staff training.
Section 11 provides for Justice Center oversight of segregated confine-
ment and residential rehabilitation units.
Section 12 provides for Commission of Correction oversight of segregated
confinement in jails.
Section 13 provides for sections of the law to apply to jails. Section
14 is the effective date.
This bill aims to make New York's prison and jail practices more humane.
The bill limits the length of time anyone can spend in segregated
confinement, restricts the criteria that can result in such confinement,
provides additional procedural protections prior to such confinement,
and exempts certain vulnerable groups. The bill also provides an alter-
native mechanism for working with people who engage in serious violence
or other problematic behavior.
Studies have consistently found that subjecting people to segregated
confinement for twenty-two to twenty-four hours a day without meaningful
human contact, programming, or therapy can cause deep and permanent
psychological, physical, developmental, and social harm.  People often
have more difficulty complying with prison rules after being placed in
segregated confinement. Segregated confinement can be particularly
devastating for certain vulnerable people, such as young or elderly
people, pregnant women, and people with disabilities or trauma histo-
ries. Other states have dramatically reduced the number of people in
segregated confinement, and seen positive benefits in terms of safety
and decreased violence.
Despite the tremendous harm caused by massive isolation of thousands of
incarcerated persons, New York prisons and jails currently impose segre-
gated confinement routinely for too long a period of time. On any given
day, there are nearly 3,000 people, disproportionately people of color,
in state prisons in Special Housing Units (SHU) and thousands more in
other forms of isolation. There are also hundreds of people in segre-
gated confinement in jails in New York City alone.  Despite claims that
segregated confinement is used in response to the most violent behavior,
five out of six disciplinary infractions that result in SHU time in New
York prisons are for non-violent conduct. Moreover, people routinely
suffer in segregated confinement for months, years, and even decades in
A growing chorus of individuals, organizations, and policy-makers has
called for a dramatic transformation and curtailment of the use of
segregated confinement. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture
concluded that solitary confinement can amount to torture and recom-
mended abolishing its use beyond 15 days and prohibiting any use of
solitary for vulnerable groups or for purposes of punishment. The New
York Civil Liberties Union and others have issued reports documenting
the arbitrary and unjustified use of segregated confinement in New York
and the negative impact its use has on incarcerated persons, staff, and
safety in our prisons and communities. The New York State Bar Associ-
ation has called upon the state and city corrections departments to
profoundly restrict the use of segregated confinement, end segregated
confinement beyond 15 days, adopt stringent criteria for any separation
and ensure any separation is for the briefest period and in the least
restrictive conditions practicable. This bill takes up the growing call
to limit segregated confinement and provide more humane and effective
2016: S.2659 was referred to crime victims, crime and correction.
2017: S.4784 was referred to crime victims, crime and correction.
2018: S.4748 was amended and recommitted to crime victims, crime and
2018: Assembly passed the bill (A3080-B).
This act will take effect one year after it becomes law.
S1623 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed  to  be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to restricting  the  use
of  segregated  confinement  and  creating alternative therapeutic and
rehabilitative confinement options
Section 1. Subdivision 23 of section 2 of the correction law, as added
by chapter 1 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
23.  "Segregated  confinement" means the [disciplinary] confinement of
an inmate in [a special housing unit or in a separate  keeplock  housing
unit.    Special  housing  units and separate keeplock units are housing
units that consist of cells grouped so as to provide separation from the
general population, and may be used to house inmates  confined  pursuant
to  the  disciplinary  procedures  described in regulations] ANY FORM OF
CELL CONFINEMENT FOR MORE THAN SEVENTEEN HOURS A DAY  OTHER  THAN  IN  A
FACILITY-WIDE  EMERGENCY  OR  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. CELL CONFINEMENT THAT  IS  IMPLEMENTED  DUE  TO
MEDICAL  OR  MENTAL  HEALTH TREATMENT SHALL BE WITHIN A CLINICAL AREA IN
THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR IN AS  CLOSE  PROXIMITY  TO  A  MEDICAL  OR
MENTAL HEALTH UNIT AS POSSIBLE.
§  2.  Section  2  of  the correction law is amended by adding two new
subdivisions 32 and 33 to read as follows:
32. "SPECIAL POPULATIONS" MEANS ANY PERSON: (A)  TWENTY-ONE  YEARS  OF
AGE  OR  YOUNGER; (B) FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER; (C) WITH A DISA-
BILITY AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF SUBDIVISION TWENTY-ONE OF  SECTION
TWO  HUNDRED NINETY-TWO OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW; OR (D) WHO IS PREGNANT, IN
THE FIRST EIGHT WEEKS OF THE POST-PARTUM RECOVERY  PERIOD  AFTER  GIVING
BIRTH,  OR  CARING FOR A CHILD IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISIONS TWO OR THREE OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER.
LBD05325-01-9
S. 1623                             2
33. "RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT" MEANS A  SEPARATE  HOUSING  UNIT
USED FOR THERAPY, TREATMENT, AND REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMMING OF INCARCER-
ATED  PEOPLE  WHO HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO REQUIRE MORE THAN FIFTEEN DAYS
OF SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT PURSUANT TO DEPARTMENT PROCEEDINGS. SUCH UNITS
SHALL  BE THERAPEUTIC AND TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND AIM TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION NEEDS AND UNDERLYING CAUSES OF  PROBLEMATIC
§  3.  Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction
law, as amended by chapter 490 of the laws of 1974, is amended  to  read
(a)  The inmate shall be supplied with a sufficient quantity of whole-
some and nutritious food[, provided, however, that such food need not be
the same as the food  supplied  to  inmates  who  are  participating  in
programs of the facility];
§  4.  Paragraph (d) of subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction
law, as added by chapter 1 of the laws of 2008, is amended  to  read  as
(d) (i) Except as set forth in clause (E) of subparagraph (ii) of this
paragraph,  the  department,  in  consultation with mental health clini-
cians, shall divert or remove inmates with serious  mental  illness,  as
defined  in  paragraph (e) of this subdivision, from segregated confine-
ment OR CONFINEMENT IN A RESIDENTIAL  REHABILITATION  UNIT,  where  such
confinement  could potentially be for a period in excess of thirty days,
to a residential mental health treatment unit.   Nothing in  this  para-
graph  shall be deemed to prevent the disciplinary process from proceed-
ing in accordance with department rules and regulations for disciplinary
(ii) (A) Upon placement of an inmate into segregated confinement OR  A
RESIDENTIAL  REHABILITATION UNIT at a level one or level two facility, a
suicide prevention screening instrument shall be administered  by  staff
from  the department or the office of mental health who has been trained
for that purpose. If such a screening instrument reveals that the inmate
is at risk of suicide, a mental health clinician shall be consulted  and
appropriate  safety precautions shall be taken. Additionally, within one
business day of the placement of such an inmate into segregated confine-
ment at a level one or level two facility, the inmate shall be  assessed
by a mental health clinician.
(B) Upon placement of an inmate into segregated confinement OR A RESI-
DENTIAL  REHABILITATION  UNIT at a level three or level four facility, a
appropriate  safety  precautions  shall  be taken. All inmates placed in
segregated confinement OR A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT at  a  level
three or level four facility shall be assessed by a mental health clini-
cian,  within  [fourteen]  SEVEN  days of such placement into segregated
(C) At the initial assessment, if the mental  health  clinician  finds
that  an inmate suffers from a serious mental illness, THAT PERSON SHALL
BE DIVERTED OR REMOVED FROM  SEGREGATED  CONFINEMENT  OR  A  RESIDENTIAL
REHABILITATION  UNIT  AND  a recommendation shall be made whether excep-
tional circumstances, as described in clause (E) of  this  subparagraph,
exist. In a facility with a joint case management committee, such recom-
mendation shall be made by such committee. In a facility without a joint
case management committee, the recommendation shall be made jointly by a
S. 1623                             3
committee  consisting  of  the  facility's highest ranking mental health
clinician, the deputy superintendent for security, and the deputy super-
intendent for program services, or their equivalents. Any such recommen-
dation  shall  be reviewed by the joint central office review committee.
The administrative process described in this clause shall  be  completed
within  [fourteen]  SEVEN  days  of  the  initial assessment, and if the
result of such process is that the inmate should be removed from  segre-
gated  confinement  OR  A  RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT, such removal
shall occur as soon as practicable, but in no event more  than  seventy-
two hours from the completion of the administrative process. PURSUANT TO
PARAGRAPH  (G) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PERMIT
THE PLACEMENT OF AN INCARCERATED PERSON WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS INTO
SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT AT ANY TIME, EVEN FOR THE PURPOSES OF ASSESSMENT.
(D) If an inmate with a serious mental  illness  is  not  diverted  or
removed to a residential mental health treatment unit, such inmate shall
be  DIVERTED  TO  A  RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT AND reassessed by a
mental health clinician within fourteen days of the  initial  assessment
and at least once every fourteen days thereafter.  After each such addi-
tional  assessment, a recommendation as to whether such inmate should be
removed from [segregated confinement] A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION  UNIT
shall  be made and reviewed according to the process set forth in clause
(C) of this subparagraph.
(E) A recommendation or determination whether to remove an inmate from
segregated confinement OR A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT  shall  take
into  account the assessing mental health clinicians' opinions as to the
inmate's mental condition and treatment needs, and shall also take  into
account  any  safety  and  security  concerns that would be posed by the
inmate's removal, even if additional restrictions  were  placed  on  the
inmate's  access  to  treatment,  property,  services or privileges in a
residential mental health treatment unit. A recommendation  or  determi-
nation  shall direct the inmate's removal from segregated confinement OR
A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT except in  the  following  exceptional
circumstances:  (1)  when  the  reviewer finds that removal would pose a
substantial risk to the safety of the inmate  or  other  persons,  or  a
substantial  threat  to the security of the facility, even if additional
restrictions were placed on the inmate's access to treatment,  property,
services or privileges in a residential mental health treatment unit; or
(2)  when  the  assessing  mental  health clinician determines that such
placement is in the inmate's best interests based on his or  her  mental
condition  and  that removing such inmate to a residential mental health
treatment unit would be detrimental to his or her mental condition.  Any
determination  not  to remove an inmate with serious mental illness from
segregated confinement OR A RESIDENTIAL  REHABILITATION  UNIT  shall  be
documented in writing and include the reasons for the determination.
(iii)  Inmates  with  serious  mental  illness who are not diverted or
shall  be  offered a heightened level of MENTAL HEALTH care, involving a
minimum of [two] THREE hours [each day, five  days  a  week,]  DAILY  of
out-of-cell therapeutic treatment and programming. This heightened level
of care shall not be offered only in the following circumstances:
(A)  The  heightened level of care shall not apply when an inmate with
serious mental illness does not, in the reasonable judgment of a  mental
health  clinician,  require  the heightened level of care. Such determi-
nation shall be documented with a written statement of the basis of such
determination and shall be reviewed by the Central New York  Psychiatric
Center clinical director or his or her designee. Such a determination is
S. 1623                             4
subject  to  change  should  the  inmate's  clinical status change. Such
determination shall be reviewed and documented by a mental health clini-
cian every thirty days, and in consultation with the  Central  New  York
Psychiatric  Center  clinical  director  or his or her designee not less
than every ninety days.
(B) The heightened level  of  care  shall  not  apply  in  exceptional
circumstances when providing such care would create an unacceptable risk
to the safety and security of inmates or staff. Such determination shall
be  documented  by  security  personnel  together with the basis of such
determination and shall be reviewed by the facility  superintendent,  in
consultation  with  a mental health clinician, not less than every seven
days for as long as the inmate remains  in  [segregated  confinement]  A
RESIDENTIAL  REHABILITATION UNIT.  The facility shall attempt to resolve
such exceptional circumstances so that the heightened level of care  may
be  provided.  If  such  exceptional circumstances remain unresolved for
thirty days, the matter shall be referred to the  joint  central  office
review committee for review.
(iv)  [Inmates  with  serious  mental  illness who are not diverted or
removed from segregated confinement shall not be placed on a  restricted
diet,  unless there has been a written determination that the restricted
diet is necessary for reasons of safety and security.  If  a  restricted
diet is imposed, it shall be limited to seven days, except in the excep-
tional  circumstances  where  the joint case management committee deter-
mines that limiting the restricted diet to  seven  days  would  pose  an
unacceptable  risk  to  the  safety and security of inmates or staff. In
such case, the need for a restricted diet shall  be  reassessed  by  the
joint case management committee every seven days.
(v)]All  inmates in segregated confinement in a level one or level two
facility who are not assessed with  a  serious  mental  illness  at  the
initial assessment shall be offered at least one interview with a mental
health  clinician  within  [fourteen] SEVEN days of their initial mental
health assessment, [and additional interviews at least every thirty days
thereafter,] unless the mental  health  clinician  at  the  most  recent
interview  recommends an earlier interview or assessment. All inmates in
[segregated confinement] A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT  in  a  level
three  or level four facility who are not assessed with a serious mental
illness at the initial assessment shall be offered at least  one  inter-
view  with a mental health clinician within thirty days of their initial
mental health assessment, and additional interviews at least every nine-
ty days thereafter, unless the  mental  health  clinician  at  the  most
recent interview recommends an earlier interview or assessment.
§  5. Subdivision 6 of section 137 of the correction law is amended by
adding eight new paragraphs (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m) and (n) to
(G) PERSONS IN A SPECIAL POPULATION AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION  THIRTY-
TWO  OF  SECTION  TWO  OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL NOT BE PLACED IN SEGREGATED
CONFINEMENT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, EXCEPT  IN  KEEPLOCK  FOR  A  PERIOD
PRIOR TO A DISCIPLINARY HEARING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (K) OF THIS SUBDI-
VISION.    INDIVIDUALS IN A SPECIAL POPULATION WHO ARE IN KEEPLOCK PRIOR
TO A DISCIPLINARY HEARING SHALL BE GIVEN SEVEN HOURS A  DAY  OUT-OF-CELL
TIME  OR  SHALL  BE  TRANSFERRED TO A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT OR
RESIDENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT UNIT AS EXPEDITIOUSLY  AS  POSSIBLE,
BUT IN NO CASE LONGER THAN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS FROM THE TIME AN INDIVIDUAL
IS ADMITTED TO KEEPLOCK.
(H)  NO PERSON MAY BE PLACED IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT FOR LONGER THAN
NECESSARY AND NO MORE THAN FIFTEEN CONSECUTIVE DAYS OR TWENTY TOTAL DAYS
S. 1623                             5
WITHIN ANY SIXTY DAY PERIOD.   AT  THESE  LIMITS,  HE  OR  SHE  MUST  BE
RELEASED  FROM SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT OR DIVERTED TO A SEPARATE RESIDEN-
TIAL REHABILITATION UNIT. IF PLACEMENT  OF  SUCH  PERSON  IN  SEGREGATED
CONFINEMENT  WOULD EXCEED THE TWENTY-DAY LIMIT AND THE DEPARTMENT ESTAB-
LISHES THAT THE PERSON COMMITTED AN ACT DEFINED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II)  OF
PARAGRAPH  (J)  OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE DEPARTMENT MAY PLACE THE PERSON
IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT UNTIL ADMISSION  TO  A  RESIDENTIAL  REHABILI-
TATION UNIT CAN BE EFFECTUATED. SUCH ADMISSION TO A RESIDENTIAL REHABIL-
ITATION  UNIT  SHALL  OCCUR  AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE AND IN NO CASE
TAKE LONGER THAN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS FROM THE TIME SUCH PERSON  IS  PLACED
IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT.
(I)  (I)  ALL  SEGREGATED  CONFINEMENT  AND RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION
UNITS SHALL CREATE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT NECESSARY  FOR  THE
SAFETY OF INCARCERATED PERSONS, STAFF, AND THE SECURITY OF THE FACILITY.
(II)  PERSONS  IN  SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT SHALL BE OFFERED OUT-OF-CELL
PROGRAMMING AT LEAST FOUR HOURS PER DAY, INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE HOUR FOR
RECREATION.  PERSONS ADMITTED TO RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNITS  SHALL
BE  OFFERED  AT LEAST SIX HOURS OF DAILY OUT-OF-CELL CONGREGATE PROGRAM-
MING, SERVICES, TREATMENT, AND/OR MEALS, WITH AN ADDITIONAL  MINIMUM  OF
ONE  HOUR  FOR  RECREATION. RECREATION IN ALL RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION
UNITS SHALL TAKE PLACE  IN  A  CONGREGATE  SETTING,  UNLESS  EXCEPTIONAL
CIRCUMSTANCES  MEAN DOING SO WOULD CREATE A SIGNIFICANT AND UNREASONABLE
RISK TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OTHER INCARCERATED PERSONS, STAFF, OR
(III) NO LIMITATION ON SERVICES, TREATMENT, OR  BASIC  NEEDS  SUCH  AS
CLOTHING,  FOOD AND BEDDING SHALL BE IMPOSED AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT. IF
PROVISION OF ANY SUCH SERVICES, TREATMENT OR BASIC NEEDS TO AN  INDIVID-
UAL  WOULD  CREATE A SIGNIFICANT AND UNREASONABLE RISK TO THE SAFETY AND
SECURITY OF INCARCERATED PERSONS, STAFF, OR THE FACILITY, SUCH SERVICES,
TREATMENT OR BASIC NEEDS MAY BE WITHHELD  UNTIL  IT  REASONABLY  APPEARS
THAT  THE  RISK  HAS ENDED.   THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT IMPOSE RESTRICTED
DIETS OR ANY OTHER CHANGE IN DIET AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT. PERSONS IN  A
RESIDENTIAL  REHABILITATION  UNIT  SHALL  HAVE  ACCESS  TO  ALL OF THEIR
PERSONAL PROPERTY UNLESS AN INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION IS MADE THAT HAVING
A SPECIFIC ITEM WOULD POSE A SIGNIFICANT AND UNREASONABLE  RISK  TO  THE
SAFETY OF INCARCERATED PERSONS OR STAFF OR THE SECURITY OF THE UNIT.
(IV)  UPON ADMISSION TO A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT, PROGRAM AND
MENTAL HEALTH STAFF SHALL ADMINISTER ASSESSMENTS AND DEVELOP AN INDIVID-
UAL REHABILITATION PLAN IN CONSULTATION WITH THE  RESIDENT,  BASED  UPON
HIS  OR  HER  MEDICAL,  MENTAL  HEALTH, AND PROGRAMMING NEEDS. SUCH PLAN
SHALL IDENTIFY SPECIFIC GOALS AND PROGRAMS, TREATMENT, AND  SERVICES  TO
BE OFFERED, WITH PROJECTED TIME FRAMES FOR COMPLETION AND DISCHARGE FROM
THE RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT.
(V)  AN INCARCERATED PERSON IN A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT SHALL
HAVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND WORK ASSIGNMENTS COMPARABLE TO CORE PROGRAMS
AND WORK ASSIGNMENTS IN GENERAL POPULATION.  SUCH  INCARCERATED  PERSONS
SHALL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL OUT-OF-CELL, TRAUMA-INFORMED THERA-
PEUTIC  PROGRAMMING  AIMED AT PROMOTING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, ADDRESSING
UNDERLYING CAUSES OF PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR RESULTING IN  PLACEMENT  IN  A
RESIDENTIAL  REHABILITATION UNIT, AND HELPING PREPARE FOR DISCHARGE FROM
THE UNIT AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
(VI) IF THE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHES THAT  A  PERSON  COMMITTED  AN  ACT
DEFINED  IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (J) OF THIS SUBDIVISION WHILE
IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT OR A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT AND POSES
A SIGNIFICANT AND UNREASONABLE RISK TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF  OTHER
INCARCERATED PERSONS OR STAFF, THE DEPARTMENT MAY RESTRICT SUCH PERSON'S
S. 1623                             6
PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMMING AND OUT-OF-CELL ACTIVITIES AS NECESSARY FOR
THE SAFETY OF OTHER INCARCERATED PERSONS AND STAFF. IF SUCH RESTRICTIONS
ARE IMPOSED, THE DEPARTMENT MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST FOUR HOURS OUT-OF-CELL
TIME  DAILY, INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO HOURS OF THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMMING AND
TWO HOURS OF RECREATION, AND MUST MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS  TO  REINSTATE
ACCESS  TO  PROGRAMMING  AS  SOON  AS  POSSIBLE.  IN  NO  CASE  MAY SUCH
RESTRICTIONS EXTEND BEYOND FIFTEEN DAYS UNLESS THE PERSON COMMITS A  NEW
ACT  DEFINED HEREIN JUSTIFYING RESTRICTIONS ON PROGRAM ACCESS, OR IF THE
COMMISSIONER AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, THE COMMISSIONER  OF  MENTAL  HEALTH
PERSONALLY  REASONABLY  DETERMINE THAT THE PERSON POSES AN EXTRAORDINARY
AND UNACCEPTABLE RISK OF IMMINENT HARM TO  THE  SAFETY  OR  SECURITY  OF
INCARCERATED  PERSONS  OR STAFF.   ANY EXTENSION OF PROGRAM RESTRICTIONS
BEYOND FIFTEEN DAYS MUST BE MEANINGFULLY REVIEWED AND APPROVED AT  LEAST
EVERY  FIFTEEN  DAYS  BY  THE COMMISSIONER AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, BY THE
COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH. EACH REVIEW MUST CONSIDER THE  IMPACT  OF
THERAPEUTIC  PROGRAMMING  PROVIDED  DURING THE FIFTEEN-DAY PERIOD ON THE
PERSON'S RISK OF IMMINENT HARM AND THE COMMISSIONER MUST  ARTICULATE  IN
WRITING,  WITH  A COPY PROVIDED TO THE INCARCERATED PERSON, THE SPECIFIC
REASON WHY THE PERSON CURRENTLY POSES AN EXTRAORDINARY AND  UNACCEPTABLE
RISK  OF IMMINENT HARM TO THE SAFETY OR SECURITY OF INCARCERATED PERSONS
OR STAFF. IN NO CASE MAY RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE COMMISSIONER EXTEND
BEYOND NINETY DAYS UNLESS THE PERSON COMMITS A NEW  ACT  DEFINED  HEREIN
JUSTIFYING RESTRICTIONS ON PROGRAM ACCESS.
(VII)  RESTRAINTS  SHALL  NOT  BE  USED  WHEN INCARCERATED PERSONS ARE
PARTICIPATING IN OUT-OF-CELL ACTIVITIES WITHIN A  RESIDENTIAL  REHABILI-
TATION  UNIT UNLESS AN INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT IS MADE THAT RESTRAINTS ARE
REQUIRED BECAUSE OF A SIGNIFICANT AND UNREASONABLE RISK  TO  THE  SAFETY
AND SECURITY OF OTHER INCARCERATED PERSONS OR STAFF.
(J)  (I)  THE  DEPARTMENT MAY PLACE A PERSON IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT
FOR UP TO THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS AND NO LONGER  THAN  SIX  DAYS  IN  ANY
THIRTY  DAY PERIOD IF, PURSUANT TO AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING, IT DETERMINES
THAT THE PERSON VIOLATED DEPARTMENT RULES  WHICH  PERMIT  A  PENALTY  OF
SEGREGATED  CONFINEMENT. THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT PLACE A PERSON IN SEGRE-
GATED CONFINEMENT FOR LONGER THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE  DAYS  OR  SIX  DAYS
TOTAL  IN A THIRTY DAY PERIOD UNLESS THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II)
OF THIS PARAGRAPH ARE MET.
(II) THE DEPARTMENT MAY  PLACE  A  PERSON  IN  SEGREGATED  CONFINEMENT
BEYOND THE LIMITS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH OR IN A RESIDEN-
TIAL REHABILITATION UNIT ONLY IF, PURSUANT TO AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING, IT
DETERMINES  BY  WRITTEN  DECISION  THAT  THE PERSON COMMITTED ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING ACTS AND IF THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE DETERMINES
IN WRITING BASED ON SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE CRITERIA THE ACTS WERE SO HEINOUS
OR DESTRUCTIVE THAT PLACEMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL  IN  GENERAL  POPULATION
HOUSING  CREATES  A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF IMMINENT SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY
TO STAFF OR OTHER INCARCERATED PERSONS, AND CREATES AN UNREASONABLE RISK
TO THE SECURITY OF THE FACILITY:
(A) CAUSING OR ATTEMPTING TO CAUSE SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH TO
ANOTHER PERSON OR MAKING AN IMMINENT THREAT  OF  SUCH  SERIOUS  PHYSICAL
INJURY  OR  DEATH  IF  THE PERSON HAS A HISTORY OF CAUSING SUCH PHYSICAL
INJURY OR DEATH AND THE COMMISSIONER AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, THE  COMMIS-
SIONER  OF  MENTAL  HEALTH  OR THEIR DESIGNEES REASONABLY DETERMINE THAT
THERE IS A STRONG LIKELIHOOD THAT THE PERSON WILL CARRY OUT SUCH THREAT.
THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH  OR  HIS  OR  HER  DESIGNEE  SHALL  BE
INVOLVED  IN  SUCH  DETERMINATION  IF  THE  PERSON IS OR HAS BEEN ON THE
MENTAL HEALTH CASELOAD OR APPEARS TO REQUIRE PSYCHIATRIC ATTENTION.  THE
S. 1623                             7
DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH SHALL  PROMULGATE  RULES  AND
REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THIS CLAUSE;
(B)  COMPELLING  OR  ATTEMPTING  TO COMPEL ANOTHER PERSON, BY FORCE OR
THREAT OF FORCE, TO ENGAGE IN A SEXUAL ACT;
(C) EXTORTING ANOTHER, BY FORCE OR THREAT OF FORCE,  FOR  PROPERTY  OR
(D)  COERCING  ANOTHER,  BY  FORCE  OR THREAT OF FORCE, TO VIOLATE ANY
(E) LEADING, ORGANIZING, INCITING, OR  ATTEMPTING  TO  CAUSE  A  RIOT,
INSURRECTION, OR OTHER SIMILARLY SERIOUS DISTURBANCE THAT RESULTS IN THE
TAKING  OF A HOSTAGE, MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR PHYSICAL HARM TO ANOTHER
(F) PROCURING DEADLY WEAPONS OR OTHER DANGEROUS CONTRABAND THAT  POSES
A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE SECURITY OF THE INSTITUTION; OR
(G)  ESCAPING,  ATTEMPTING  TO ESCAPE OR FACILITATING AN ESCAPE FROM A
FACILITY OR ESCAPING OR ATTEMPTING TO  ESCAPE  WHILE  UNDER  SUPERVISION
OUTSIDE SUCH FACILITY.
FOR  PURPOSES  OF THIS SECTION, ATTEMPTING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS DISTURB-
ANCE OR TO ESCAPE SHALL ONLY BE DETERMINED TO HAVE OCCURRED IF THERE  IS
A  CLEAR  FINDING  THAT  THE  INMATE  HAD  THE INTENT TO CAUSE A SERIOUS
DISTURBANCE OR THE INTENT TO ESCAPE AND HAD COMPLETED  SIGNIFICANT  ACTS
IN  THE  ADVANCEMENT  OF  THE ATTEMPT TO CREATE A SERIOUS DISTURBANCE OR
ESCAPE. EVIDENCE OF WITHDRAWAL OR ABANDONMENT OF A PLAN TO CAUSE A SERI-
OUS DISTURBANCE OR TO ESCAPE SHALL NEGATE A FINDING OF INTENT.
(III) NO PERSON MAY BE PLACED IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT OR A  RESIDEN-
TIAL  REHABILITATION  UNIT  BASED  ON  THE SAME ACT OR INCIDENT THAT WAS
PREVIOUSLY USED AS THE BASIS FOR SUCH PLACEMENT.
(IV) NO PERSON MAY BE HELD IN SEGREGATED  CONFINEMENT  FOR  PROTECTIVE
CUSTODY.  ANY  UNIT  USED  FOR  PROTECTIVE  CUSTODY  MUST, AT A MINIMUM,
CONFORM TO REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNITS.
(K) ALL HEARINGS TO DETERMINE IF A PERSON MAY BE PLACED IN  SEGREGATED
CONFINEMENT  SHALL  OCCUR  PRIOR  TO PLACEMENT IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT
UNLESS A SECURITY SUPERVISOR, WITH WRITTEN APPROVAL OF A FACILITY SUPER-
INTENDENT OR DESIGNEE, REASONABLY BELIEVES THE PERSON FITS THE SPECIFIED
CRITERIA FOR SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT IN SUBPARAGRAPH  (II)  OF  PARAGRAPH
(J)  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION.  IF  A  HEARING DOES NOT TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO
PLACEMENT, IT SHALL OCCUR AS SOON AS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE AND AT  MOST
WITHIN  FIVE  DAYS  OF  SUCH PLACEMENT UNLESS THE CHARGED PERSON SEEKS A
POSTPONEMENT OF THE HEARING. PERSONS AT SUCH HEARINGS SHALL BE PERMITTED
TO BE REPRESENTED BY ANY ATTORNEY OR LAW STUDENT, OR BY ANY PARALEGAL OR
INCARCERATED PERSON UNLESS THE DEPARTMENT REASONABLY DISAPPROVES OF SUCH
PARALEGAL OR INCARCERATED PERSON BASED UPON OBJECTIVE  WRITTEN  CRITERIA
DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
(L)  (I)  ANY  SANCTION  IMPOSED  ON  AN INCARCERATED PERSON REQUIRING
SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT SHALL RUN WHILE THE PERSON IS  IN  A  RESIDENTIAL
REHABILITATION  UNIT  AND  THE  PERSON SHALL BE DISCHARGED FROM THE UNIT
BEFORE OR AT THE TIME SUCH SANCTION EXPIRES. IF  A  PERSON  SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETES  HIS  OR  HER REHABILITATION PLAN BEFORE THE SANCTION EXPIRES,
THE PERSON SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE DISCHARGED FROM THE UNIT  UPON  SUCH
(II) IF AN INCARCERATED PERSON HAS NOT BEEN DISCHARGED FROM A RESIDEN-
TIAL  REHABILITATION UNIT WITHIN ONE YEAR OF INITIAL ADMISSION TO SUCH A
UNIT OR IS WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF A FIXED OR TENTATIVELY APPROVED DATE FOR
RELEASE FROM A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, HE OR SHE SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE
DISCHARGED FROM THE UNIT UNLESS HE OR SHE COMMITTED  AN  ACT  LISTED  IN
SUBPARAGRAPH  (II) OF PARAGRAPH (J) OF THIS SUBDIVISION WITHIN THE PRIOR
S. 1623                             8
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AND HE OR SHE POSES A SIGNIFICANT AND  UNREASON-
ABLE RISK TO THE SAFETY OR SECURITY OF INCARCERATED PERSONS OR STAFF. IN
ANY  SUCH  CASE THE DECISION NOT TO DISCHARGE SUCH PERSON SHALL BE IMME-
DIATELY  AND  AUTOMATICALLY  SUBJECTED  TO  AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW BY THE
COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH OR THEIR DESIGNEES. A
PERSON MAY REMAIN IN A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT BEYOND  THE  TIME
LIMITS  PROVIDED  IN THIS SECTION IF BOTH COMMISSIONERS OR BOTH OF THEIR
DESIGNEES APPROVE  THIS  DECISION.  IN  EXTRAORDINARY  CIRCUMSTANCES,  A
PERSON WHO HAS NOT COMMITTED AN ACT LISTED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARA-
GRAPH  (J) OF THIS SUBDIVISION WITHIN THE PRIOR ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS,
MAY REMAIN IN A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT BEYOND THE  TIME  LIMITS
PROVIDED  IN  THIS SECTION IF BOTH THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONER
OF MENTAL HEALTH PERSONALLY DETERMINE  THAT  SUCH  INDIVIDUAL  POSES  AN
EXTRAORDINARY  AND  UNACCEPTABLE  RISK OF IMMINENT HARM TO THE SAFETY OR
SECURITY OF INCARCERATED PERSONS OR STAFF.
(III) THERE SHALL BE A MEANINGFUL PERIODIC REVIEW  OF  THE  STATUS  OF
EACH  INCARCERATED  PERSON IN A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT AT LEAST
EVERY SIXTY DAYS TO ASSESS THE PERSON'S PROGRESS AND  DETERMINE  IF  THE
PERSON  SHOULD  BE  DISCHARGED  FROM  THE  UNIT. FOLLOWING SUCH PERIODIC
REVIEW, IF THE PERSON IS NOT  DISCHARGED  FROM  THE  UNIT,  PROGRAM  AND
MENTAL  HEALTH STAFF SHALL SPECIFY IN WRITING THE REASONS FOR THE DETER-
MINATION AND THE PROGRAM, TREATMENT, SERVICE, AND/OR  CORRECTIVE  ACTION
REQUIRED BEFORE DISCHARGE. THE INCARCERATED PERSON SHALL BE GIVEN ACCESS
TO  THE  PROGRAMS,  TREATMENT  AND  SERVICES SPECIFIED, AND SHALL HAVE A
RIGHT TO BE DISCHARGED FROM THE RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT UPON THE
SUCCESSFUL FULFILLMENT OF SUCH REQUIREMENTS.
(IV) WHEN AN INCARCERATED PERSON  IS  DISCHARGED  FROM  A  RESIDENTIAL
REHABILITATION  UNIT,  ANY  REMAINING  TIME  TO  SERVE ON ANY UNDERLYING
DISCIPLINARY SANCTION SHALL BE  DISMISSED.  IF  AN  INCARCERATED  PERSON
SUBSTANTIALLY  COMPLETES HIS OR HER REHABILITATION PLAN, HE OR SHE SHALL
HAVE ANY ASSOCIATED LOSS OF GOOD TIME RESTORED UPON DISCHARGE  FROM  THE
(M)  ALL SPECIAL HOUSING UNIT, KEEPLOCK UNIT AND RESIDENTIAL REHABILI-
TATION UNIT STAFF AND THEIR SUPERVISORS SHALL UNDERGO A MINIMUM OF THIR-
TY-SEVEN HOURS AND THIRTY MINUTES OF TRAINING  PRIOR  TO  ASSIGNMENT  TO
SUCH  UNIT,  AND TWENTY-ONE HOURS OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING ANNUALLY THERE-
AFTER, ON SUBSTANTIVE CONTENT DEVELOPED IN  CONSULTATION  WITH  RELEVANT
EXPERTS,  ON TOPICS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE PURPOSE AND GOALS
OF  THE  NON-PUNITIVE  THERAPEUTIC  ENVIRONMENT,  TRAUMA-INFORMED  CARE,
RESTORATIVE  JUSTICE, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION METHODS. PRIOR TO PRESIDING
OVER ANY HEARINGS, ALL HEARING OFFICERS SHALL UNDERGO A MINIMUM OF THIR-
TY-SEVEN HOURS AND THIRTY MINUTES OF TRAINING, WITH ONE  ADDITIONAL  DAY
OF  TRAINING  ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, ON RELEVANT TOPICS, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED  TO,  THE  PHYSICAL  AND  PSYCHOLOGICAL  EFFECTS  OF  SEGREGATED
CONFINEMENT,  PROCEDURAL  AND  DUE  PROCESS  RIGHTS  OF THE ACCUSED, AND
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE REMEDIES.
(N) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBLISH MONTHLY REPORTS ON ITS WEBSITE,  WITH
SEMI-ANNUAL AND ANNUAL CUMULATIVE REPORTS, OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
IN  RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNITS ON THE FIRST DAY OF EACH MONTH. THE
REPORTS SHALL PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN  SEGREGATED
CONFINEMENT  AND  IN  RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNITS BY: (I) AGE; (II)
RACE; (III) GENDER; (IV) MENTAL  HEALTH  TREATMENT  LEVEL;  (V)  SPECIAL
HEALTH  ACCOMMODATIONS  OR  NEEDS;  (VI)  NEED  FOR AND PARTICIPATION IN
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS;  (VII)  PREGNANCY  STATUS;  (VIII)  CONTINUOUS
LENGTH  OF STAY IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNITS AS WELL AS LENGTH OF STAY
S. 1623                             9
IN THE PAST SIXTY DAYS; (IX) NUMBER OF DAYS IN  SEGREGATED  CONFINEMENT;
(X)  A  LIST  OF  ALL  INCIDENTS  RESULTING  IN  SANCTIONS OF SEGREGATED
CONFINEMENT BY FACILITY AND DATE  OF  OCCURRENCE;  (XI)  THE  NUMBER  OF
INCARCERATED  PERSONS  IN  SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT BY FACILITY; AND (XII)
THE NUMBER OF INCARCERATED PERSONS IN RESIDENTIAL  REHABILITATION  UNITS
BY FACILITY.
§  6.  Section  138  of  the correction law is amended by adding a new
7. DE-ESCALATION, INTERVENTION, INFORMATIONAL REPORTS, AND  THE  WITH-
DRAWAL  OF  INCENTIVES  SHALL  BE THE PREFERRED METHODS OF RESPONDING TO
MISBEHAVIOR  UNLESS  THE  DEPARTMENT  DETERMINES  THAT  NON-DISCIPLINARY
INTERVENTIONS  HAVE FAILED, OR THAT NON-DISCIPLINARY INTERVENTIONS WOULD
NOT SUCCEED AND THE MISBEHAVIOR INVOLVED AN ACT LISTED  IN  SUBPARAGRAPH
(II)  OF PARAGRAPH (J) OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-
SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE, IN WHICH CASE, AS A LAST RESORT,  THE  DEPARTMENT
SHALL  HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE MISBEHAVIOR REPORTS, PURSUE DISCIPLI-
NARY CHARGES, OR IMPOSE NEW OR ADDITIONAL SEGREGATED  CONFINEMENT  SANC-
§ 7. Subdivision 1 of section 401 of the correction law, as amended by
chapter 1 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
1.    The commissioner, in cooperation with the commissioner of mental
health, shall establish programs, including but not limited to  residen-
tial  mental  health treatment units, in such correctional facilities as
he or she may deem appropriate for the treatment of mentally ill inmates
confined in state correctional facilities who are in need of psychiatric
services but who do not require hospitalization  for  the  treatment  of
mental illness. Inmates with serious mental illness shall receive thera-
py  and  programming  in settings that are appropriate to their clinical
needs while maintaining the safety and security of the facility.
THE CONDITIONS AND SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE RESIDENTIAL MENTAL  HEALTH
TREATMENT UNITS SHALL BE AT LEAST COMPARABLE TO THOSE IN ALL RESIDENTIAL
REHABILITATION  UNITS, AND ALL RESIDENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT UNITS
SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPHS (H), (I),  (J),
AND  (K)  OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THIS
CHAPTER. RESIDENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT UNITS THAT ARE EITHER RESI-
DENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH UNIT MODELS OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT MODELS SHALL
ALSO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (L)  OF  SUBDIVI-
SION SIX OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER.
THE  RESIDENTIAL  MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT UNITS SHALL ALSO PROVIDE THE
ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, SERVICES, AND PROGRAMMING DELINEATED
IN THIS SECTION. The administration and  operation  of  programs  estab-
lished pursuant to this section shall be the joint responsibility of the
commissioner  of  mental  health  and the commissioner. The professional
mental health care  personnel,  and  their  administrative  and  support
staff,  for  such  programs  shall  be employees of the office of mental
health. All other personnel shall be employees of the department.
§ 8. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 401
of the correction law, as added by chapter 1 of the  laws  of  2008,  is
(i)  In  exceptional  circumstances, a mental health clinician, or the
highest ranking facility security  supervisor  in  consultation  with  a
mental  health  clinician  who has interviewed the inmate, may determine
that an inmate's access to out-of-cell  therapeutic  programming  and/or
mental  health  treatment  in a residential mental health treatment unit
presents an unacceptable risk to the safety of inmates  or  staff.  Such
determination  shall  be  documented in writing and SUCH INMATE SHALL BE
S. 1623                            10
REMOVED TO A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT THAT IS NOT  A  RESIDENTIAL
MENTAL  HEALTH  TREATMENT UNIT WHERE alternative mental health treatment
and/or other therapeutic programming, as determined by a  mental  health
clinician, shall be provided.
§  9.  Subdivision 5 of section 401 of the correction law, as added by
5. (a) An inmate in a residential mental health treatment  unit  shall
not  be  sanctioned  with  segregated  confinement for misconduct on the
unit, or removed from the unit and placed in segregated confinement OR A
RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT,  except  in  exceptional  circumstances
where such inmate's conduct poses a significant and unreasonable risk to
the  safety  of inmates or staff, or to the security of the facility AND
HE OR SHE HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE COMMITTED AN ACT  OR  ACTS  DEFINED  IN
SUBPARAGRAPH  (II)  OF  PARAGRAPH  (J) OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION ONE
HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER.  Further, in the event that such a
sanction is imposed, an inmate shall not be required  to  begin  serving
such sanction until the reviews required by paragraph (b) of this subdi-
vision  have  been  completed;  provided,  however that in extraordinary
circumstances where an inmate's conduct poses an immediate  unacceptable
threat  to  the  safety  of  inmates or staff, or to the security of the
facility an inmate may be immediately moved to [segregated  confinement]
A  RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNIT.  The determination that an immediate
transfer to [segregated confinement] A RESIDENTIAL  REHABILITATION  UNIT
is  necessary  shall  be  made  by the highest ranking facility security
supervisor in consultation with a mental health clinician.
(b) The joint case management committee shall review any  disciplinary
disposition  imposing  a  sanction of segregated confinement at its next
scheduled meeting. Such review shall  take  into  account  the  inmate's
mental  condition  and  safety  and  security  concerns.  The joint case
management committee may only thereafter recommend the  removal  of  the
inmate  in  exceptional circumstances where the inmate COMMITS AN ACT OR
ACTS DEFINED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (J) OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF
SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER AND poses a significant
and unreasonable risk to the safety of inmates or staff or to the  secu-
rity of the facility. In the event that the inmate was immediately moved
to  segregated  confinement,  the  joint  case  management committee may
recommend that the inmate continue to serve such sanction only in excep-
tional circumstances where the inmate COMMITS AN ACT OR ACTS DEFINED  IN
HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER AND poses a significant and  unrea-
sonable risk to the safety of inmates or staff or to the security of the
facility.  If  a  determination  is  made  that  the inmate shall not be
required to serve all or any part of the  segregated  confinement  sanc-
tion,  the  joint case management committee may instead recommend that a
less restrictive sanction should be imposed. The recommendations made by
the joint case management committee under this paragraph shall be  docu-
mented  in  writing and referred to the superintendent for review and if
the superintendent disagrees, the matter shall be referred to the  joint
central  office review committee for a final determination. The adminis-
trative process described in this paragraph shall  be  completed  within
fourteen  days.  If the result of such process is that an inmate who was
immediately transferred to [segregated confinement] A RESIDENTIAL  REHA-
BILITATION  UNIT  should  be  removed from [segregated confinement] SUCH
UNIT, such removal shall occur as soon as practicable, and in  no  event
longer  than seventy-two hours from the completion of the administrative
S. 1623                            11
§ 10. Subdivision 6 of section 401 of the correction law,  as  amended
by chapter 20 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
6.  The department shall ensure that the curriculum for new correction
officers, and other new department staff  who  will  regularly  work  in
programs providing mental health treatment for inmates, shall include at
least  eight  hours  of  training about the types and symptoms of mental
illnesses, the goals of  mental  health  treatment,  the  prevention  of
suicide  and  training  in  how to effectively and safely manage inmates
with mental illness. Such training may be  provided  by  the  office  of
mental  health  or  the justice center for the protection of people with
special needs. All department staff who are transferring into a residen-
tial mental health treatment unit shall receive a minimum of eight addi-
tional hours of such training, and eight hours  of  annual  training  as
long as they work in such a unit. All security, program services, mental
health and medical staff with direct inmate contact shall receive train-
ing  each  year  regarding identification of, and care for, inmates with
mental illnesses. The department shall provide  additional  training  on
these  topics  on  an  ongoing basis as it deems appropriate.  ALL STAFF
WORKING IN A RESIDENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT UNIT SHALL ALSO RECEIVE
ALL TRAINING MANDATED IN PARAGRAPH (M) OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION ONE
HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER.
§ 11. Section 401-a of the correction law is amended by adding  a  new
4.  THE  JUSTICE  CENTER SHALL ASSESS THE DEPARTMENT'S COMPLIANCE WITH
THE PROVISIONS OF  SECTIONS  TWO,  ONE  HUNDRED  THIRTY-SEVEN,  AND  ONE
HUNDRED  THIRTY-EIGHT OF THIS CHAPTER RELATING TO SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT
AND RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNITS AND SHALL ISSUE A PUBLIC REPORT, NO
LESS THAN ANNUALLY, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT AND  LEGISLA-
TURE,  REGARDING  ALL  ASPECTS OF SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT AND RESIDENTIAL
REHABILITATION UNITS IN STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES INCLUDING BUT  NOT
LIMITED  TO  POLICIES AND PRACTICES CONCERNING: (A) PLACEMENT OF PERSONS
IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT  AND  RESIDENTIAL  REHABILITATION  UNITS;  (B)
SPECIAL  POPULATIONS;  (C) LENGTH OF TIME SPENT IN SUCH UNITS; (D) HEAR-
INGS AND PROCEDURES; (E) PROGRAMS, TREATMENT AND CONDITIONS OF  CONFINE-
MENT IN SUCH UNITS; AND (F) ASSESSMENTS AND REHABILITATION PLANS, PROCE-
DURES AND DISCHARGE DETERMINATIONS.
§  12.  Section  45  of  the correction law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 18 to read as follows:
18. ASSESS COMPLIANCE OF LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES WITH THE  TERMS
OF  PARAGRAPHS  (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), (L), (M) AND (N) OF SUBDIVISION
SIX OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER. THE  COMMISSION
SHALL ISSUE A PUBLIC REPORT REGARDING ALL ASPECTS OF SEGREGATED CONFINE-
MENT  AND RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION UNITS AT LEAST ANNUALLY WITH RECOM-
MENDATIONS TO LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, THE GOVERNOR, THE  LEGISLA-
TURE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO POLICIES AND PRACTICES REGARDING: (A)
PLACEMENT  OF PERSONS; (B) SPECIAL POPULATIONS; (C) LENGTH OF TIME SPENT
IN SEGREGATED CONFINEMENT AND RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNITS; (D)  HEARINGS
AND PROCEDURES; (E) CONDITIONS, PROGRAMS, SERVICES, CARE, AND TREATMENT;
AND (F) ASSESSMENTS, REHABILITATION PLANS, AND DISCHARGE PROCEDURES.
§  13. Section 500-k of the correction law, as amended by chapter 2 of
the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 500-k. Treatment of inmates. 1. Subdivisions five and six of section
one hundred thirty-seven of this chapter, except paragraphs (d) and  (e)
of subdivision six of such section, relating to the treatment of inmates
in  state  correctional facilities are applicable to inmates confined in
county jails; except that the report required by paragraph (f) of subdi-
S. 1623                            12
vision six of such section shall be  made  to  a  person  designated  to
receive such report in the rules and regulations of the state commission
of  correction,  or in any county or city where there is a department of
correction, to the head of such department.
2.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER SECTION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, SUBDIVI-
SION THIRTY-THREE OF SECTION TWO OF THIS CHAPTER, AND SUBPARAGRAPHS (I),
(IV) AND (V) OF PARAGRAPH (I) AND SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (L)  OF
SUBDIVISION  SIX  OF  SECTION  ONE  HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER
SHALL NOT APPLY TO LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES WITH A  TOTAL  COMBINED
CAPACITY OF FIVE HUNDRED INMATES OR FEWER.
§ 14. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
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