Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1035: Establishes the crime of making a threat of mass violence

This bill creates two new criminal offenses for threatening violence at specific locations like schools, places of worship, or public gatherings. It establishes "second degree" for individuals under 18 threatening schools or other locations (with a $35,000 fine and 10-100 days detention), and "first degree" for anyone making such threats (a class D felony with a $35,000 fine and 3+ years in prison). The law applies to threats made in writing, verbally, or through any communication method. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025, and amends existing penal code sections to set these penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates felony offenses for threats, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties (3+ years prison), contradicting reform indicators like reduced sentencing.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 4330: Relates to granting certain individuals youthful offender status or young adult offender status; repealer

Relates to granting certain individuals youthful offender status; adds a new category of individuals eligible for young adult offender status; provides for process and sentencing requirements related to such statuses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds young adult offender status with tailored sentencing, promoting rehabilitation over punitive measures - aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7198: Relates to the unauthorized release of sealed records

This bill makes it a class B misdemeanor for public officers or employees to intentionally disclose sealed legal records to unauthorized people, punishable by fines up to $1,000 (no jail time). It applies to records sealed under specific laws, such as criminal procedure or family court files, and directly affects government employees handling such sensitive information. Key exceptions include allowing the person whose record is sealed to share it themselves, officers discussing events without confirming sealed details, or disclosures made in good faith to entitled individuals. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents unauthorized disclosure of sealed criminal court records by government employees, protecting individual privacy and strengthening court integrity within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7558: Relates to requiring consent of a minor's parent, legal guardian or attorney for law enforcement collection of DNA from certain minors

Requires the written consent of a minor's parent, legal guardian or attorney for law enforcement collection of DNA from a minor prior to the lawful arrest of such minor.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires parental consent for minor DNA collection, protecting civil rights pre-arrest, aligning with reform efforts to limit unwarranted law enforcement intrusion.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4134: Provides domestic violence victims and crime victims with supervision while taking depositions

Enacts the "Lydia Peikon Cotz act"; provides domestic violence victims and crime victims with supervision while taking depositions; directs the court to provide a secure location within the courthouse, and a court officer, for such persons taking depositions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides secure court supervision for victims during depositions, enhancing victim safety and access to justice within criminal proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4521: Enacts the "criminal forfeiture process act"; repealer

Bill S 4521, known as the "criminal forfeiture process act," replaces the existing process for the criminal forfeiture of property. It directly affects individuals whose property is linked to specific felony offenses, such as controlled substance, cannabis, prostitution, or driving under the influence crimes, and prohibits civil forfeiture under this article. The bill requires a criminal conviction for property to be forfeited, with the forfeiture proceeding taking place as part of the criminal trial. It also includes provisions to protect the rights of "innocent owners" and "secured interest holders" of property that might otherwise be subject to seizure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires criminal conviction for property forfeiture, replacing civil forfeiture and protecting individual rights - aligns with criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1768: Enacts the "drag racing and speeding enforcement act"

This bill adds five points to a driver's license for anyone convicted of participating in speed contests or races (like drag racing). It directly affects drivers found guilty of these activities under existing traffic law. The key provision modifies the vehicle and traffic law to impose these license points in addition to any existing fines or jail time. The law will take effect on November 1st after enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds license points for drag racing, expanding penalties under traffic law, aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAdds license points for drag racing/speeding, enhancing road safety enforcement under vehicle regulations, directly strengthening transportation safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7208: Relates to the criminal use of a dangerous instrument on school grounds during the commission of a felony; repealer

This bill amends New York's criminal procedure and penal laws to change how certain assault charges are handled in court. It requires defendants charged with second-degree assault (a class D felony) to enter a guilty plea, overriding other legal provisions. The bill also updates the definition of a "dangerous instrument" to explicitly include vehicles and umbrellas used in ways that could cause serious harm. These changes apply to cases involving assault during felonies, not specifically school grounds as the abstract suggests. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates guilty pleas for assault charges, expands dangerous instrument definition to include vehicles/umbrellas, reducing defendant rights and increasing punitive sentencing85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 25, 2026

S 5609: Prohibits the use of biometric surveillance technology by law enforcement; establishes the biometric surveillance regulation task force; and provides for the expiration and repeal of certain provisions

Prohibits the use of biometric surveillance technology by law enforcement; establishes the biometric surveillance regulation task force; provides for the expiration and repeal of certain provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits invasive biometric surveillance by law enforcement, aligning with civil rights protections and accountability in criminal justice reform.92% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits law enforcement use of biometric surveillance technology, restricting a privacy-invasive tech application per topic focus on data privacy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8173: Enacts the "safekeeping and access to video evidence (SAVE) act"

This bill, known as the "Safekeeping and Access to Video Evidence (SAVE) Act," requires local governments to retain video recordings from public security cameras. It mandates that recordings from cameras in public spaces, or those used by police, fire, ambulance, or healthcare services during public interactions, be kept for a minimum of fifteen months. If a local government faces a legal claim, the relevant recordings must be held until the litigation concludes or fifteen months, whichever is longer. These recordings must be stored securely and made accessible to officials who respond to information requests.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates retention of public security/police video evidence for accountability, aligning with enhanced police oversight and transparency in criminal justice reform.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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