Requires the use of risk and needs assessments in parole decisions; provides a process permitting incarcerated individuals to correct verifiable factual mistakes or errors in their risk and needs assessments or other non-confidential documents given the board prior to their appearances.
Requires the office of victim assistance to notify crime victims of the availability of victim support services by providing such victims with a written notice of the availability of statewide programs.
Permits the parole board to extend the time for reconsideration of parole for violent felony offenders to forty-eight months from a negative determination.
Conforms the definition of an incarcerated individual with a serious mental illness to the definition of "person with a serious mental illness" in the mental hygiene law.
Removes the complete authority of the governor to appoint the entire parole board; provides that the parole board shall consist of twenty-four members of whom four shall be appointed by the governor, four members shall be appointed by the chief judge of the court of appeals, four members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, four members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, four members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, and four members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.
Provides that any person interested in the grant or denial of discretionary release shall have the right to submit a written statement of views in support of or in opposition to the granting of discretionary release which the parole board may consider.
Requires the membership of the state board of parole, and parole hearing officers to be composed of a proportionate share of residents of each county to reflect the state's incarcerated individual population.
Provides for limited credit time allowances for working in the horse handling program for a period of no less than eighteen months and receipt of a certification from the Groom Elite program.
Extends the maximum number of months for the reconsideration of denied applications by the parole board for parole for certain violent felony offenses from 24 months to 60 months.
Directs the commission of corrections and community supervision to establish an annual heat mitigation plan; directs the extreme heat action plan work group of the department of environmental conservation to analyze the impact of extreme heat on incarcerated individuals and people working in prisons.
Protects the rights of people in prisons, jails and forensic facilities; limits the use of cell or segregated confinement; grants access to tablets, visitation, and certain items.
Requires the county sheriff to oversee an annual jail staffing analysis and provide a report to the commission of corrections and community supervision and give the public the opportunity to view the statistics of their local county jail.