Inmates in New York state prisons would be able to get by on $2,600 in taxpayer-funded allowances if a new bill stops circulating in Albany.
A proposal from two Big Apple Democrats in the state Legislature would increase the amount of “gate money” given to ex-offenders from the current $40, with the money earmarked for housing, transportation and other expenses. It is said that it will be done. employment opportunity centersupports the bill.
“Each year, thousands of people return to their communities, often with the clothes on their backs,” state Rep. Eddie Gibbs (D-Manhattan), a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. Ta.
“This is not just a question of economic aid,” Gibbs said. “It’s about dignity, stability and reducing the likelihood of re-offending. By providing this support, we not only support individuals, we also invest in the safety and prosperity of our communities.
“Together, we can turn the tide on recidivism, pave the way for successful reintegration, and ensure that every New Yorker is given a second chance,” the congressman added.
The bill, co-sponsored by state Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn), would amend state corrections law by adding a “gaming money program” provision, the proposal states. has been done.
The bill requires inmates released from correctional facilities after paying off their debt to receive $2,550 in monthly installments over six months.
To pay for the plan, lawmakers are asking to set aside $25 million from the state’s general fund.
“Right now, people are being sent home from jail with $40,” Sam Schaefer, CEO of the Employment Opportunity Center, said in a statement. “Even one day’s worth of food is barely enough.
“By replacing the outdated concept of ‘gate money’ with a dynamic fund that addresses essential needs, we are not only investing in the future of New Yorkers returning home from incarceration, but also building safer and more productive communities.” It will encourage construction,” he said. “We know this approach works.”
According to the advocacy group Center for Community Alternatives, the $40 currently given to inmates leaving prison in the state comes from income withheld while in prison and is used to work in the commissary or other parts of the prison. Inmates typically earn less than 65 cents an hour.
Under the Parker/Gibbs bill, inmates would receive $425 a month for up to six months, but if the proposal passes, that amount would be adjusted annually for inflation.
But not all Albany lawmakers were on board with the idea.
State Sen. George Borrello (R-Dunkirk) said, “Unlimited cash rewards for those who commit crimes in New York are another example of the criminal indulgence that New York’s ruling Democratic Party continues to engage in.” he said in an email to the Post. “Crime pays in New York.
“Democrats continue to prioritize criminals over victims and law-abiding citizens,” he added.
But Gibbs, 53, knows about life behind bars. He served more than three years in prison for manslaughter, even though he claimed he fired in self-defense when his home was burglarized when he was a teenager.
In 2022, he becomes the first state lawmaker to serve time in prison.
Mr. Gibbs was elected in a special election on January 18, 2022, and represents the same East Harlem neighborhood where he grew up with a single mother in a local public housing project.
with post wire
