Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7179: Authorizes use of closed-circuit television for the testimony of domestic violence victim witnesses in a criminal proceeding

Authorizes use of closed-circuit television for the testimony of domestic violence victim witnesses in a criminal proceeding subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to child witnesses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes closed-circuit TV for domestic violence victims, protecting witness safety and facilitating testimony in criminal proceedings - aligns with victim-centered justice reforms.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1990: Establishes the "Malcolm X unsolved civil rights crime act of 2025"

Establishes the "Malcom X unsolved civil rights crime act"; requires the assistant attorney of the civil rights bureau to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred not later than December thirty-first, nineteen seventy-nine, and resulted in a death.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates investigation of historical civil rights violations, protecting civil rights per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3099: Relates to an order upon termination of criminal action in favor of the accused

This bill automatically seals certain criminal records after specific timeframes if no prosecution occurs. It applies to arrests (after January 1, 2027) without docket numbers or cases (after January 1, 2027) with no action for a year. The Division of Criminal Justice Services must notify relevant agencies (prosecutors, courts, police) after 6 months for arrests or 2 years for cases, then seal records 60 days later if no prosecution updates are received. Sealed records become inaccessible to all entities, protecting individuals from having unresolved arrests or cases affecting their records. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically seals records for unprosecuted cases, reducing collateral consequences and promoting criminal justice reform by limiting long-term impacts of unfounded arrests.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4974: Establishes a reentry services and treatment fund

Establishes a reentry services and treatment fund; establishes training requirements for peace officers related to mental illness and trauma informed care.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes a dedicated fund for reentry services, directly allocating government spending (appropiation) under budget management, aligning with funding essential programs.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates reentry fund and mandates mental health training for officers, directly advancing rehabilitation and accountability - core criminal justice reform pillars.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes treatment fund and mandates mental health training for officers, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare topic90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 1, 2026

S 4583: Relates to the health, safety and human rights of incarcerated pregnant individuals, incarcerated birthing parents of children and their children

Relates to the health, safety and human rights of incarcerated pregnant individuals, incarcerated birthing parents and their children; requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to establish rules and regulations relating to conditions in institutions and correctional facilities and the treatment and care of birthing parents in such institutions and facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires humane treatment standards for incarcerated birthing parents, advancing human rights within correctional facilities per bill's explicit language.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates healthcare standards for incarcerated birthing parents, requiring treatment regulations to protect health and safety in correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4160: Provides voice communication service to incarcerated people at no cost; repealer

This bill (S 4160) requires state correctional facilities to provide free voice communication services (like phone calls) to incarcerated individuals, with no cost to the person initiating or receiving the call. It prohibits state agencies from charging fees or generating revenue from these communication services and mandates that in-person visit programs remain available - digital services cannot replace them. The law repeals an existing correction law section and takes effect April 1, 2026, applying to new or renewed communication contracts after that date. It directly affects incarcerated people in state prisons and youth detention centers by guaranteeing free access to basic voice communication.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides free communication services to incarcerated people, promoting family connections and rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform goals that reduce recidivism and protect civil rights.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 513: Establishes the crime of doxing a police officer, peace officer, or state officer

Establishes the crime of doxing a police officer, peace officer, or state officer when a person knowingly makes restricted personal information about a police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer, publicly available with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; or with the intent and knowledge that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; requires the posting of bail.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new crime to protect law enforcement officers from doxing, strengthening officer safety within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5518: Relates to the powers and duties of the commission on forensic science regarding familial DNA search regulations

This bill prohibits law enforcement from using New York's state DNA identification index to conduct familial DNA searches, which identify potential relatives of crime scene DNA samples. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and the Commission on Forensic Science by banning this specific investigative technique. The key mechanism requires amending state law to explicitly state that no search of the DNA index may be performed to identify an offender who might be a biological relative of the person whose DNA was submitted. The policy change takes effect immediately, nullifying any conflicting existing rules or practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans familial DNA searches, restricting law enforcement overreach and protecting civil liberties in criminal investigations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5707: Includes certain charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree as a qualifying offense for consideration of an order of recognizance, release under non-monetary conditions or bail

Includes certain charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree as a qualifying offense for consideration of an order of recognizance, release under non-monetary conditions or bail.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands non-monetary release options for certain weapon charges, reducing cash bail reliance and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to decrease pretrial detention.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1350: Prohibits law enforcement officers from using bias-based profiling

Prohibits police officers from using bias-based profiling; requires that a procedure be established for the taking and review of complaints against police officers for bias-based profiling; allows an action for injunctive relief and/or damages to be brought against a law enforcement agency, any agent of a law enforcement agency and the supervisor of an agent.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits bias-based profiling by police, requiring complaint procedures and legal remedies, enhancing accountability and protecting civil rights in law enforcement.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits bias-based profiling by police, protecting immigrants from discriminatory enforcement practices common in immigration contexts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

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