New rule requires NY judges to visit detention sites

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Officials of the New York State Unified Court System have announced amendments to Part 17 of the Rules of the Chief Judge, that will require judges serving in criminal and family courts to conduct at least one visit per year to a prison, jail, or other detention facility, starting Jan. 1, 2028.

New York is now the first state in the nation to mandate immersive yearly visits by trial court judges responsible for sentencing or detention decisions.

The change is designed to deepen judicial insight into incarceration conditions, and to enhance visibility and promote stronger understanding and communication among corrections systems, incarcerated individuals, and the judiciary, according to state officials.

Under the new Part 17, judicial visits to facilities will include opportunities for meaningful time in key areas such as intake, housing, work education, recreation, visitation, dining, and medical and mental health facilities.

Judges will have an opportunity to meet with incarcerated individuals, employees, administrators, and service providers. Visits will rotate among facility types, including state prisons, local jails, and youth and women’s facilities.

“This rule keeps judges better connected to what transpires after sentencing. It deepens a judge’s firsthand understanding of prison conditions and the broad impact of incarceration on individuals, families, and communities, as well as the opportunities available during incarceration,” Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson said.

The new Part 17 will take effect Jan. 1, 2028, to allow sufficient time for successful implementation, which will include a new judicial orientation and education program and significant logistical planning.