N.Y. New York City Criminal Court Act § 56: Prisoner's right to communicate with friends

§ 56. Prisoner's right to communicate with friends. (1) The

commissioner of correction of the city of New York shall cause to be

placed in each district prison a notice in several languages, setting

forth that prisoners have the right to send a message or to write to or

cause their relatives or friends to be telephoned to in the manner

hereinafter set forth, and also stating the rates of messenger service.

Whenever a person is detained in a district prison the keeper or other

person in charge shall, at the request of such prisoner, telephone,

without cost, to one number in the city of New York given him by said

prisoner in an effort to reach his relatives and friends, or, at the

option of the prisoner, give him a stamped envelope free of charge, or

at cost an envelope with necessary postage for a special delivery

letter. The keeper or other person in charge shall, at the request of

such prisoner, telephone to such other numbers as the prisoner may

request upon the payment of the regular telephone charge for the same.

It shall be the duty of the lieutenant, or other officer in charge at

the police station, to telephone free of charge to three numbers at the

request of the prisoner. In each case the lieutenant, or other officer

in charge of the station house, or the keeper, or other person in charge

of the district prison, shall inform the prisoner of his opportunity to

telephone or receive a stamped envelope and postage as above set forth,

and in addition thereto, in each district prison there shall be

installed a messenger telegraph service, and whether the prisoner sends

a message by said service or by a messenger he shall not be charged any

sum greater than the customary rate for similar service from any other

place in the city.

(2) At the time of the arraignment of a defendant, the judge shall

inform said defendant that he is entitled to communicate with his

relatives or friends, by letter or telephone free of charge. But the

failure of the judge to give the warning prescribed herein shall not be

deemed a reason to reverse a judgment of conviction unless such failure

is shown to have deprived the defendant of a fair trial.