Protect In-Person Visits in NYS Correctional Facilities
The New York State Assembly gaveled out for the 2025 legislative session—and with it, the Protect In-Person Visiting (PIPV) bill was left without a vote. For six consecutive years, the NY State Senate passed the PIPV bill, but not the Assembly. This year, we saw more Assembly co-sponsors than ever before, over 90 organizations signed a statement calling on lawmakers to act, and PIPV was included in the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus’ Blueprint for Justice and Reform—an important signal of its alignment with broader criminal justice policy goals.
The legislative process is slow and often unpredictable, but we are firm in our commitment to get this bill passed! The legislature does not go back in to session until January 2026, and in the interim we will continue meeting with lawmakers and community members to educate them about why this bill must be passed. Please join us in doing the same.
We are proud of what we accomplished together and we will continue to fight to ensure that families stay connected, that children can hug their parents, and that relationships are honored by our correctional system. Thank you for being in this with us.
—The New York Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents and Osborne Association
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CONTACT NY STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HEASTIE
Contact:
518-455 3791​
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​Sample script:​
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Dear Speaker Heastie,
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I urge you to support the Protect In-Person Visits bill, A4603. The Senate has passed it six years in a row and I urge the Assembly to do the same when session resumes.
Visiting is a lifeline for families with incarcerated loved ones, but limited visiting hours at some jails make it difficult to visit and I am alarmed that jails across the country are replacing in-person visits with expensive video calls.
This bill would require correctional facilities in New York to offer evening and/or weekend visiting hours and protect in-person visits from being replaced with video conferencing. Video is a good supplement but we need in person visits too. Families are counting on you.
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Thank you,
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Contact State Leadership ​​
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I urge New York to Protect In-Person Visits (A4603/S5037) in prisons and jails. Pricey video calls are replacing visits at jails across the country. We cannot let this happen in NY! @speakercarlheastie.bsky.social @leaderasc.bsky.social pass this bill now to ensure families can visit in person.
Visits are a lifeline, but limited visit hours at some jails make visiting difficult. [tag your Senator and Assemblymember] please co-sponsor A4603/S5037 to require evening or weekend visit hours & #ProtectVisits from being replaced with video. #LoveLivesInPerson
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Hello,
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I am your constituent and I urge the Assembly to pass the Protect In-Person Visits bill A4603 to prevent visits in New York's prisons and jails from being replaced with expensive video calls. The Senate passed this bill SIX years in a row and I ask the Assembly to do the same.
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Visiting is a lifeline for families with incarcerated loved ones, but limited visiting hours at some jails make it difficult to visit and I am alarmed that jails across the country are replacing in-person visits with expensive video calls.
​
This bill would require correctional facilities in New York to offer evening and/or weekend visiting hours and protect in-person visits from being replaced with video conferencing. Video is a good supplement but we need in person visits too. Families are counting on you.
​
Thank you,