Protect In-Person Visits in NYS Correctional Facilities
UPDATE: The New York State Assembly failed to vote on the bill before the 2024 legislative session ended even though the Senate passed the bill for the fifth straight year. Please continue contacting Assembly Speaker Heastie and your State Senator and Assemblymembers to ask that they pass the protect in person visiting bill.
Visiting is a lifeline for families separated by incarceration, but limited visiting hours at correctional facilities make it difficult to visit. We are concerned that jails across the country are being enticed by for-profit video conferencing companies to reduce in-person visiting hours, taking away a vital connection for those incarcerated and their loved ones. The Protect In-Person Visiting bill (S3318/A6488) would prevent this by ensuring in-person visits cannot be replaced with video, and requiring correctional facilities to offer evening and/or weekend visiting hours.
Take Action
1
CONTACT NY STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HEASTIE
Contact:
518-455 3791​
​
​Sample script:​
​
Dear Speaker Heastie,
​
I urge the Assembly to pass the Protect In-Person Visits bill S3318A/A6488A.
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,
2
Tweet Assembly Speaker Heastie
I urge the Assembly to join the Senate in passing the Protect In-Person Visits bill, A6488A/S3318A. Pricey video calls are replacing visiting hours at jails in other states. We cannot let this happen in NY! @CarlHeastie @NYSA_Majority families are counting on you to pass it now.
​
Tweet your State Senator and Assemblymember
Visits are a lifeline, but limited visit hours at some jails make visiting difficult. [tag your Senator and Assembly member] please co-sponsor A4250A/S2841A to require evening or weekend visit hours & #ProtectVisits from being replaced with video. #LoveLivesInPerson
3
Hello,
​
I am your constituent and I urge you to co-sponsor the Protect In-Person Visits bill S3318A/A6488A to prevent visits in New York's prisons and jails from being replaced with expensive video calls. The Senate passed this bill FIVE years in a row and I ask the Assembly to do the same.
​
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,