2025 Advocacy
Historic Omnibus Prison Reform
Bill Enacted in 2025
The Omnibus Prison Reform bill, passed by the New York State Legislature in June 2025, significantly strengthens prison oversight, transparency, and accountability, particularly regarding the deaths of incarcerated people. The legislation is a direct response to the in-custody deaths of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi. The package of reforms was signed into law on December 19th, 2025 by Governor Kathy Hochul. While this legislation marked an acknowledgement of the complete lack of oversight of New York State prisons, it is only a first step.
Key provisions of the omnibus bill
The legislation focuses primarily on increasing outside scrutiny and surveillance of New York's correctional facilities.
Accountability and investigation
Video surveillance: Requires round-the-clock video and audio surveillance in all common areas of correctional facilities, with no blind spots.
Prompt disclosure of video footage: Mandates that video footage related to the death of an incarcerated person involving a correction officer be disclosed to the Attorney General's office within 72 hours.
Autopsy requirements: Incorporates the "Terry Cooper Autopsy Accountability Act," which requires autopsy reports to include all photographs, x-rays, and microscopic slides collected by the medical examiner.
Transparency and reporting
Mandatory public death notices: Requires the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to publish a public notice of an incarcerated person's death on its website within 24 hours.
Timely family notification: Requires DOCCS to notify the next of kin of the circumstances surrounding a death within 24 hours.
Statute of limitations for lawsuits: Extends the statute of limitations for formerly incarcerated people to sue the state for injuries incurred in prison to three years after their release.
Expanded oversight bodies
Expanded Commission of Correction: Increases the number of commissioners on the State Commission of Correction (SCOC) from three to nine, and requires a study on deaths in state correctional facilities.
Strengthened Correctional Association of New York (CANY): Reduces the notice required for CANY to inspect state prisons from 72 to 24 hours, and grants the organization routine access to administrative records.
Attorney General's office
Conflict of interest removal: Creates a process to remove conflicts of interest that could prevent the Attorney General from prosecuting DOCCS employees, allowing for the appointment of a special attorney if needed.
Robert Brooks 2025 Agenda for Justice
BILL STATUS
S1671 (Salazar) / A5355 (Tapia)
Status: Failed to advance ✘
Shifts discipline to the Commissioner of Corrections when there is serious misconduct by Correction Officer.
S856 (Salazar) / A2315 (Gallagher)
Status: Passed ✔
Ensures diversity through expansion of the SCOC.
S844 (Salazar) / A649 (Cruz)
Status: Passed ✔
Extends statue of limitations for those incarcerated who fear retribution while in custody.
S651 (Salazar) / A3781 (Weprin)
Status: Passed ✔
Entrusts the Corrections Association of New York to investigate conditions in New York State prisons.
S360 (Rivera) / A2149 (Gonzalez-Rojas)
Status: Failed to advance ✘
Enhances oversight of correctional healthcare by increasing the Department of Health’s authority to investigate and evaluate healthcare services in correctional facilities.
S342 (Cooney) / A1085 (Kelles)
Status: Failed to advance ✘
Allows for incarcerated individuals to earn time off their sentences.
A1010A (Epstein) / S5680 (Salazar)
Status: Passed ✔
Requires the timely notice of death that occur during custody.
S158 (Salazar) / A1283 (Walker)
Status: Failed to advance ✘
Allows judicial review when evidence is presented of rehabilitation.
A7014 (Tapia) / S7312 (Salazar)
Status: Passed ✔
A Bill relating to the elimination of surveillance dead zones.
Be part of
the change.
Together, we can move beyond reaction—and toward a future where prisons are no longer places of violence, but spaces of accountability, safety, and human dignity.