Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6526: Changes the timing of certain discovery requirements to sixty days prior to trial

This bill changes when prosecutors must share evidence with the defense in criminal cases, requiring it to happen no later than 60 days before trial. For defendants in custody, prosecutors must complete this initial sharing within 20 days of arraignment. For defendants not in custody, the deadline is 35 days after arraignment, but still capped at 60 days before trial. The bill directly affects criminal defendants and prosecutors in New York state courts by setting a uniform pre-trial deadline for discovery.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSets clear discovery deadlines (60 days pre-trial) to ensure defendants have adequate time to prepare, strengthening fair trial protections in criminal justice.95% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2689: Enacts the building up immigrant legal defense or BUILD act

Enacts the building up immigrant legal defense or BUILD act to provide competitive workforce development and capacity building grants to eligible entities that are seeking to expand access to representation for individuals facing deportation by increasing the workforce and strengthening the legal services infrastructure needed to provide such representation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands legal defense access for deportation cases, strengthening due process and civil rights in immigration courts, aligning with criminal justice reform principles of fair representation.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProvides grants to expand legal representation for immigrants facing deportation, strengthening access to defense services per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Immigrant Services Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 439: Enacts "the prison wage act" relating to payment for labor performed by incarcerated individuals

This bill, known as "the prison wage act," mandates compensation for incarcerated individuals performing labor in state and local correctional facilities. It requires that these individuals be paid at least one-half of the state's minimum wage for any work performed or for which a wage would typically be due. This compensation applies to various types of labor, including general facility work, tasks for nonprofit organizations, and participation in work release programs. Additionally, hourly incentive allowances for educational and training programs must also meet this minimum wage standard.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates fair wages for incarcerated labor, promoting rehabilitation and civil rights within corrections - directly advancing criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates minimum wage compensation for incarcerated laborers, advancing wage standards for vulnerable workforce under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3210: Allows access to juvenile delinquency records for the purposes of a firearm background check

This bill (S 3210) expands firearm background checks for applicants under 22 years old by requiring state agencies to provide juvenile delinquency records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It directly affects individuals under 22 seeking to purchase firearms, as their juvenile court records - previously not included in background checks for this age group - will now be accessible. The key mechanism is an amendment to the Family Court Act, mandating that juvenile delinquency records be made available to NICS and state police for background checks under federal law. This creates a concrete policy change in how firearm eligibility is assessed for young adults.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands firearm background checks to include juvenile records, enhancing public safety measures within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Juvenile Justice

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4967: Relates to timely release of principals on bail

Requires persons held in custody to be released immediately upon posting bail; requires use and acceptance of electronic signatures and records to effectuate communications relating to posting bail.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires immediate bail release, reducing pretrial detention - key criminal justice reform to protect defendant rights and reduce unnecessary incarceration.95% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Apr 30, 2025

A 813: Relates to policies and procedures for when a child less than eighteen years old is arrested

Directs the superintendent of state police, in consultation with the office of children and family services, shall develop, maintain and disseminate to all members of the state police written policies and procedures, regarding child-sensitive arrest practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDirects child-sensitive arrest policies for minors, aligning with criminal justice reform and civil rights protection in law enforcement procedures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 694: Requires notice of risk of deportation of non-citizens, prior to accepting a plea

Requires courts, prior to accepting a plea, to provide notice to the defendant that such plea and the acceptance thereof could result in deportation, removal from the United States, exclusion from the United States or denial of citizenship, if the defendant is not a citizen of the United States.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to inform non-citizen defendants of deportation risks before plea, protecting rights and ensuring informed consent in criminal proceedings.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill requires courts to inform non-citizens of deportation risks prior to a plea, protecting their rights to make informed legal decisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2404: Requires police officers to report the misconduct of a police officer

Requires police officers to report the misconduct of a police officer; requires the division of criminal justice to establish a protocol to be followed by police agencies when handling and recording mandatory reports of misconduct by a police officer; establishes the crime of failure to report misconduct by a police officer.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires police to report misconduct, establishes reporting protocol, and creates crime for failure to report - directly enhances police accountability per support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 158: Authorizes certain persons confined in institutions operated by the department of corrections and community supervision to apply for a sentence reduction

Authorizes certain persons confined in institutions operated by the department of corrections and community supervision to apply for a sentence reduction.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes sentence reductions for eligible inmates, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4527: Enacts Noah's Law; creates the crimes of child abuse, vulnerable elderly person or incompetent or physically disabled person abuse, and torture

Noah's Law (Bill A 4527) creates new criminal offenses for abuse of specific vulnerable groups and defines torture. It establishes two degrees of child abuse (second degree: reckless or cruel acts causing harm or risk; first degree: intentional serious harm) and similar abuse crimes for vulnerable elderly, incompetent, or physically disabled people, all classified as felonies (B or A). The law also defines torture as intentionally inflicting severe physical injury or mental suffering while in custody, without requiring proof of actual pain. These provisions directly affect individuals who commit such acts, increasing penalties for abuse that previously may have been prosecuted under less specific statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new felony offenses for abuse of vulnerable groups, strengthening protections under criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Track