Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7207: Relates to providing increased and uniform training requirements and outreach for law enforcement and establishes law enforcement peer support

Relates to providing increased and uniform training requirements including implicit bias, use of force, first aid and firearm training, and outreach for law enforcement; establishes law enforcement peer support through the office of mental health.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates enhanced law enforcement training on implicit bias/use of force and establishes peer support, directly promoting accountability and reform in criminal justice practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5477: Relates to pretrial mental health and substance abuse evaluations and treatment for certain defendants and establishes the pretrial mental health and substance abuse services bail fund

Relates to pretrial mental health and substance abuse evaluations and treatment for certain defendants; establishes the pretrial mental health and substance abuse services bail fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates a dedicated state fund for pretrial mental health services, allocating budget resources to support this program.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes pretrial mental health/substance abuse services and a dedicated fund, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through treatment access rather than incarceration.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes fund for pretrial mental health/substance abuse services, directly funding healthcare access for defendants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 2, 2026

A 1426: Relates to tampering with physical evidence and obstructing governmental administration

Includes a police or peace officer turning off their body camera or deleting a body camera recording in the crime of tampering with physical evidence and obstructing governmental administration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes police tampering with body camera evidence, enhancing accountability and transparency in law enforcement operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6567: Prohibits the use of cell-site simulators by law enforcement officers

S 6567 prohibits New York law enforcement agencies and officers from using cell-site simulators - devices that mimic cell towers to track phones without warrants. It directly affects residents whose phone data could be collected without legal authorization and law enforcement agencies operating in New York. The bill creates a private right to sue for violations, allowing affected individuals to seek $5,000 per violation or actual damages, plus attorney fees. Evidence obtained using these devices is inadmissible in court, and the law defines prohibited surveillance technology broadly to include such devices. The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits warrantless cell-site simulator use by police, protecting Fourth Amendment rights and enhancing law enforcement accountability - core criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyS 6567 prohibits unauthorized use of cell-site simulators to track phones, directly protecting citizens' data privacy and digital rights from technological misuse.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3613: Prohibits the use of certain chemical incapacitants by law enforcement agencies

This bill prohibits all law enforcement agencies from using chemical incapacitants (like tear gas or similar agents) except for pepper spray under strict limits. Specifically, pepper spray is restricted to liquid canisters no larger than 0.75 ounces and cannot be used for crowd control. The law defines "law enforcement agency" broadly to include any unit authorized to investigate or arrest for felonies, and "chemical incapacitant" to cover toxic chemicals, munitions designed to cause harm, and related equipment. This directly affects all state and local law enforcement agencies by restricting their use of chemical agents during operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts police use of chemical incapacitants (e.g., tear gas), enhancing accountability and protecting civil rights - key criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5334: Requires law enforcement agents and peace officers to record information pertaining to the race of persons they have meaningful interactions with in their memo books

Requires law enforcement agents and peace officers to record information in their memo books pertaining to the race of persons with whom they have meaningful interactions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates recording race in law enforcement interactions to enhance accountability and address racial bias, a core criminal justice reform indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 3, 2026

S 8353: Provides that no state or local correctional facility shall deny entry to a visitor to such facility due to the fact that such person is menstruating, wearing a menstrual product or has a contraceptive device

Provides that no state or local correctional facility shall deny entry to a person visiting such facility due to the fact that such person is menstruating or has a contraceptive device or appears on body scan imaging or alternative methods to have or be using a menstrual product or contraceptive device.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents correctional facilities from denying visitor access based on menstruation or contraceptive use, protecting civil rights within corrections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3783: Includes bias-related graffiti in hate crimes

This bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include bias-motivated graffiti within the definition of hate crimes. It adds "making graffiti" (section 145.60) to the list of offenses that qualify as hate crimes when motivated by bias against a person's race, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. This change means graffiti displaying hate symbols or slurs targeting specific groups will now be prosecuted as hate crimes, not just vandalism. The policy directly affects individuals who create such graffiti and law enforcement handling these incidents. The bill expands existing hate crime protections to cover this specific form of expression without altering penalties for the underlying offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hate crime definition to include bias graffiti, strengthening protections for marginalized groups under criminal justice reform by treating bias-motivated acts as hate crimes rather than vandalism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8194: Relates to prohibiting law enforcement officers and peace officers from inquiring about the immigration status of a victim or witness to a criminal offense

Bill A 8194 proposes to prohibit law enforcement officers and peace officers from inquiring about the immigration status of individuals who are victims or witnesses to a criminal offense. This measure aims to encourage victims and witnesses to report crimes without fear of their immigration status being questioned. Officers would only be permitted to ask about immigration status if it is directly necessary for investigating the criminal offense itself. The bill amends the executive law to establish this new prohibition.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status of crime victims/witnesses to encourage reporting, aligning with civil rights protection and criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill A 8194 protects immigrants by prohibiting law enforcement from inquiring about the immigration status of victims or witnesses, encouraging crime reporting without fear.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sanctuary Policies

Track

in committee · New York · Senate May 15, 2026

S 6865: Relates to the creation of a "ebony alert system" for missing Black youth

Provides for the creation of an ebony alert system to be activated on behalf of Black youth who are reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, at risk, developmentally disabled, or cognitively impaired, or who have been abducted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates targeted alert system for missing Black youth to address racial disparities in law enforcement response, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

Track