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Bill

A 10487

Relates to providing body-worn cameras to certain individuals visiting correctional facilities

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Noah Burroughs and 6 co-sponsors

The bill requires all qualifying visitors to wear a body-worn camera during visits to correctional facilities and to receive a copy of the footage within 24 hours.

REFERRED TO CORRECTION
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 10487

Overview

A 10487 (2025-2026) from the New York Assembly proposes to require body-worn cameras for individuals visiting certain correctional facilities. The bill would update who may visit facilities and mandate that each visit include a body-worn camera, with footage delivered to the visitor or their designee within 24 hours of the visit's end.

Main purpose and intent

  • Enhance transparency and accountability around visits to correctional facilities by recording interactions between visitors and facility staff or inmates.
  • Provide visitors with a verifiable record of the visit, potentially improving safety and allowing for later verification or review if concerns arise.

Key provisions and changes

  • Authorized visitors (Subdiv. 1(a)):

    • The list of individuals authorized to visit correctional facilities at pleasure remains broad and includes high-ranking state officials (governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller, attorney-general, secretary of state, etc.), members of the commission of correction, legislators and accompanying staff, court judges, district attorneys, and clergy with charge of a congregation.
    • The officer in charge (commissioner of correction) must determine that such visits will not impede supervision, management, and control of facilities.
    • The bill preserves the existing framework that only those authorized by law may enter facilities beyond this list, under the commissioner’s authority.

  • Body-worn cameras for visitors (Subdiv. 1(b)):

    • The Department (of Correction) must provide a body-worn camera to all individuals visiting a correctional facility under the specified provisions.
    • Visitors must wear the body-worn camera for the duration of the visit and receive instruction on how to operate it.

  • Footage access and delivery (Subdiv. 1(b)):

    • A copy of any footage captured by the visitor’s body-worn camera must be transmitted to the visitor or their designee within 24 hours after the visit ends.

  • Effective date: The act would take effect 90 days after becoming law.

Who would be affected

  • Specific categories of visitors listed in the bill, including high-ranking state officials, legislative staff, judges, district attorneys, clergy, and other authorized individuals, when visiting correctional facilities.
  • These visitors would be equipped with body-worn cameras and receive training on usage.
  • Visitors or their designees would receive a copy of the footage within 24 hours of the visit.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Procedure: Introduced in the Assembly, referred to the Committee on Correction.
  • Effective date: 90 days after the law’s enactment.
  • The bill codifies the mandatory use of body-worn cameras for qualifying visits and creates an immediate post-visit footage delivery obligation.

Potential considerations (not explicit in text)

  • Operational impact on correctional facilities (training, device provisioning, storage, and redaction policies for footage).
  • Privacy and confidentiality considerations for inmates, staff, and visitors.
  • Data retention, access controls, and potential disputes over footage.
  • Cost implications for the department to equip visitors with cameras and manage recordings.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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