Rulemaking 2007 (All Minimum Standards)

In November 2007, following a multi-year review and lengthy public process, the Board voted to adopt a series of amendments to the original Minimum Standards. This process was the first comprehensive review of all of the original provisions since the Minimum Standards took effect in 1978.

The amendments became effective on June 16, 2008.

Several amendments made permanent longstanding variances authorizing DOC to quarantine prisoners confined for medical reasons in contagious disease units.

Other amendments authorize the Department to:

• Record and monitor prisoner telephone calls
• Read prisoner correspondence when there exists a reasonable belief that the correspondence threatens the safety or security of the facility, another person, or the public
• Deny a prisoner access to outdoor recreation for up to five days for misconduct on the way to, from, or at recreation; and
• Require all prisoners to wear uniforms (however, detainees are not required to wear uniforms until the Department first establishes and operates adequate laundry and clothing storage facilities).
• Notice of Adoption of Amendments to the MS for NYC CF
• Discussion with Invited and Interested Parties
• Deliberations and Votes
• Comments of the Legal Aid Society Prisoners' Rights Project
• Public Hearing Transcript (April 17, 2007)