§ 1-06 Recreation.
RCNY § 1-06
(a)Policy. Recreation is essential to good health and contributes to reducing tensions within a facility. People in custody shall be provided with adequate indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities.
(b)Recreation areas. Indoor and outdoor recreation areas of sufficient size to meet the requirements of this section shall be established and maintained by each facility. An outdoor recreation area must allow for direct access to sunlight and air.
(c)Recreation schedule. Recreation periods shall be at least one hour; only time spent at the recreation area shall count toward the hour. Recreation shall be available seven (7) days per week in the outdoor recreation area, except in inclement weather when the indoor recreation area shall be used.
(d)Recreation equipment.
(1)The Department shall make available to people in custody an adequate amount of equipment during the recreation period.
(2)Upon request each facility shall provide people in custody with appropriate outer garments in satisfactory condition, including coat, hat, and gloves, when they participate in outdoor recreation during cold or wet weather conditions.
(e)Recreation within housing area.
(f)Recreation for people housed in the contagious disease units. In place of out-of-cell recreation, the Department, in consultation with medical providers, may provide people confined for medical reasons in the contagious disease units with appropriate recreation equipment and materials for in-cell recreation. The Department must provide such individuals with daily access to publications, such as newspapers, books, and magazines, which shall be made available in the six (6) most common languages spoken by the jail population.
(g)Recreation for people in restrictive housing. Persons confined in restrictive housing as defined in 40 RCNY Chapter 6 shall be permitted recreation in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (c) of this section.
(h)Limitation on access to recreation. A person's access to recreation may be denied for up to five (5) days only due to imminent safety and security risks, which must be recorded and transmitted to the Board within one (1) business day of the restriction. Any limits imposed on a person's access to recreation must be approved by the Chief of the Department. (Amended City Record 12/24/2015, eff. 1/23/2016; amended City Record 6/9/2021, eff. 7/9/2021; amended City Record 6/28/2024, eff. 7/28/2024)
