Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8249: Requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to collect and report on data from the office of special investigations

Requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to collect and report on data from the office of special investigations regarding complaints received by such office in the previous quarter.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires data collection on complaints to enhance oversight and accountability in corrections, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 222: Relates to assault on a straphanger

This bill makes it a class C felony to cause someone to fall onto subway tracks through physical contact like shoving or kicking. It directly affects individuals who commit such assaults on subway platforms, increasing the legal penalty for these specific acts. The key provision defines "assault on a straphanger" as a new felony, adding it to the list of serious crimes punishable by up to 7.5 years in prison. The law applies to any physical contact resulting in a person falling onto subway tracks, aiming to protect passengers from intentional harm.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for subway assault by creating new felony, expanding criminalization with up to 7.5 years prison95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances subway safety by criminalizing assaults causing falls onto tracks, directly protecting public transit users and aligning with transportation safety indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime Public Transit

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failed · New York · Assembly Apr 21, 2026

A 4856: Elevates killing a police work dog or police work horse from being a class E felony to a class D felony

Elevates the offense of killing a police work dog or police work horse from being a class E felony to a class D felony; establishes the class E felony of injuring a police work dog or police work horse for intentionally causing serious physical injury to a police work dog or police work horse while such dog or horse is performing its duties under the supervision of a police officer.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill elevates penalties for harming police work animals, strengthening law enforcement protections within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5696: Relates to increasing penalties for assault, obstruction and harassment of an election officer

Includes within the class D felony of assault in the second degree, the intentional causing of physical injury to an election officer while such person is performing their assigned duties; amends aggravated harassment and obstruction of governmental administration to include election officers.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assault on election officers, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing, opposing reform efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6257: Relates to parole eligibility for felony offenders; repealer

Requires that all felony offenders shall be eligible for parole after serving no more than twenty-five years of their sentence; eliminates the possibility of serving consecutive terms of imprisonment which exceed a twenty-five year sentence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates parole eligibility after 25 years and caps consecutive sentences, reducing mandatory long terms and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1132: Establishes the bystander protection act

Establishes the bystander protection act which increases the punishment for an offense when a member of the public is harmed, but the intended target is a public official.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases punishment for attacks on public officials when bystanders are harmed, directly expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing per oppose indicators.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 870: Relates to removing the ten year time period from the crime of persistent sexual abuse

This bill (A 870) removes the requirement that prior convictions for certain sexual abuse offenses must have occurred within the last ten years to qualify as "persistent sexual abuse." It directly affects individuals convicted of multiple sexual abuse offenses by eliminating the time limit on counting past convictions. The key change modifies the penal law definition to allow any prior separate convictions (regardless of when they occurred) to be used in determining persistent sexual abuse charges. Persistent sexual abuse remains classified as a class E felony under the current law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves 10-year limit on prior convictions for persistent sexual abuse, expanding criminalization and enabling harsher sentences for older offenses, opposing reform-focused criminal justice policies.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 9256: Creates the offense of unlawful funeral protest

This bill makes it illegal to protest within 1,000 feet of a funeral location during specific times: one hour before and one hour after the funeral ceremony. It prohibits activities like loud noise, blocking access to the cemetery, displaying signs (unless part of the service), or distributing materials that disrupt the funeral. Violations are classified as a class B misdemeanor (or class A if repeated), with each day of violation counted separately. The law directly affects protesters who engage in such activities near funerals, aiming to protect the peace of funeral services.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense for funeral protests, expanding criminalization without reform intent; directly restricts protest activities via misdemeanor penalties.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2587: Designates services to be provided by a jail-based substance use disorder treatment, peer led recovery support services, and transition services program as essential medical care services

Designates services to be provided by a jail-based substance use disorder treatment, peer led recovery support services, and transition services program as essential medical care services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDesignates jail-based substance use treatment as essential medical care, advancing rehabilitation programs and reducing recidivism in criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDesignates jail-based substance use disorder and recovery services as essential medical care, expanding access to critical health services per healthcare policy indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1327: Relates to the releasing of individuals charged with a crime under non-monetary bail conditions in order to receive mental health screening or be admitted to a hospital as a result of a mental illness; repealer

Relates to releasing individuals charged with a crime under non-monetary bail conditions in order to receive mental health screening or be admitted to a hospital as a result of a mental illness which is likely to result in harm to such individual or others.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables mental health diversion from jail, aligning with reform goals to reduce unnecessary incarceration and protect civil rights.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables mental health treatment access via non-monetary bail, supporting mental health services by removing financial barriers to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health Public Health

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