Bill
S 3653
Requires disclosure of video footage from inmate-death cases involving correctional officers to boost transparency and aid families, oversight bodies, and the public.
Title: Requires the disclosure of video footage related to the death of an incarcerated individual involving a correctional officer
Status and History
- Introduced: January 29, 2025
- Current Status: REFERRED TO Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
- Legislative Actions: Two identical referrals recorded on January 29, 2025
- Primary Sponsor: Jamaal Bailey
- Cosponsors: Robert Jackson, April Baskin
- Related/Companion: A 4028 (companion bill)
What the bill would do (based on the title)
- The bill would require the disclosure of video footage connected to the death of an incarcerated individual where a correctional officer is involved.
- The exact mechanisms, timelines, and recipients of such disclosures are not provided in the summary excerpt. The full text would specify who must disclose, to whom, in what timeframe, and under what circumstances disclosures must be made (e.g., public release, release to families, or release to oversight bodies).
Purpose and potential impact
- Purpose: To increase transparency and accountability surrounding deaths in custody involving correctional officers.
- Potential benefits: Improved transparency for families, media, and oversight bodies; enhanced oversight of use-of-force or incident investigations; potentially quicker access to evidence during investigations.
- Potential considerations: Balancing public interest with privacy and security concerns; determining who bears disclosure costs and handling exemptions or redactions; timelines for release and any protective orders or ongoing investigations that could delay disclosure.
Who would be affected
- Incarcerated individuals and their families
- Correctional facilities and correctional officers
- Law enforcement, oversight, and investigative agencies
- Media and others seeking access to footage under applicable public-records or privacy laws
Procedural and timeline aspects
- The bill’s immediate procedural step is referral to the Senate committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction.
- As of the provided information, no committee vote or floor action is listed; additional actions would depend on the committee’s consideration and subsequent legislative steps.
Sponsorship and related bills
- Primary sponsor: Jamaal Bailey
- Cosponsors: Robert Jackson, April Baskin
- Companion: Assembly Bill A 4028 (noting the same companion designation appears in the summary)
Next steps for tracking
- Monitor committee hearings and amendments for S 3653 to learn specific disclosure requirements, confidentiality provisions, and enforcement mechanisms.
- Review the companion Assembly bill A 4028 for parallel provisions and a fuller picture of intent and scope.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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