Requires the parole board to grant parole to incarcerated individuals who successfully participate in a temporary release program for two years without interruption immediately prior to appearance before the board.
Summary
S00251 would amend New York’s Executive Law to create a mandatory parole rule for a narrow group of incarcerated individuals. Under the bill, if a person has successfully participated in a temporary release program for two uninterrupted years immediately before appearing before the Board of Parole, the board would be required to grant parole, overriding the board’s usual discretionary review under existing law.
The measure is aimed at people who have demonstrated sustained compliance in work release, educational release, or other temporary release settings, and it would make that record determinative for parole eligibility at the board appearance. The bill takes effect immediately and would change how the parole board evaluates certain applicants by converting a discretionary decision into a mandatory grant for qualifying individuals.
Impact
The bill would amend section 259-i of the Executive Law, which governs parole procedures, by adding a new statutory requirement that limits the Board of Parole’s discretion in a specific circumstance. If enacted, the board would be legally obligated to release qualifying incarcerated individuals on parole rather than weighing the full range of statutory factors in the usual manner. This would affect the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Parole Board, incarcerated individuals in temporary release programs, and potentially victims and prosecutors involved in parole proceedings.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no documented debate or recorded support/opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears reform-oriented and focused on rewarding successful participation in temporary release programs, but the available record does not show whether lawmakers viewed it favorably or opposed it. The absence of votes and committee discussion means sentiment cannot be reliably inferred beyond the bill’s apparent policy purpose.
Contention
The main point of contention would likely be the bill’s removal of parole board discretion. Supporters may argue that two years of uninterrupted success in temporary release is strong evidence of rehabilitation and readiness for release, while opponents may object that mandatory parole could reduce individualized review and limit consideration of public safety, victim input, or the seriousness of the underlying offense. Because no transcripts are provided, these concerns are inferred from the structure of the proposal rather than from recorded debate.
Same As
Requires the parole board to grant parole to incarcerated individuals who successfully participate in a temporary release program for two years without interruption immediately prior to appearance before the board.
Requires the parole board to grant parole to incarcerated individuals who successfully participate in a temporary release program for two years without interruption immediately prior to appearance before the board.
Requires the parole board to grant parole to incarcerated individuals who successfully participate in a temporary release program for two years without interruption immediately prior to appearance before the board.
Requires the parole board to grant parole to incarcerated individuals who successfully participate in a temporary release program for two years without interruption immediately prior to appearance before the board.
Adds additional information to reporting requirements for temporary release programs including the number of incarcerated individuals denied participation in each temporary release program and the reasons for denial.
Revises requirements for parole release and violations of parole; repeals law relating to violations committed by parolee released due to overcrowding.
Requires mental health services for incarcerated individuals with mental health issues related to the trauma of incarceration upon reentry and reintegration into society upon release.