Criminal Justice

passed both · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 1004: Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial

This bill amends New York's criminal procedure law to clarify how courts assess whether a defendant has the mental capacity to stand trial. It requires psychiatric examiners to specifically evaluate whether "restoration services" (such as medication support, competency training, or symptom management) could reasonably restore a defendant's capacity within a set timeframe, and include this assessment in their reports. The bill directly affects defendants in criminal cases who may lack mental capacity due to illness or disability, ensuring their evaluation process considers potential treatment pathways. Key provisions define "restoration services" and mandate that examiners' reports detail the feasibility of such services before a court decides on next steps.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to assess restoration services for defendant competency, promoting fair trials and rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1617: Relates to potential tenants with a criminal history; and relates to public housing applicants with a criminal history

This bill prohibits landlords from denying rental applications solely based on a potential tenant's criminal history and creates similar protections for public housing applicants. It requires landlords to avoid blanket denials and mandates that public housing programs cannot inquire about criminal history before determining eligibility. The bill also establishes strict criteria for denying housing based on criminal history (only if directly related to public safety), bans consideration of sealed records, and requires an appeal process for rejected applicants. These changes directly affect renters in private housing and applicants for state/local public housing subsidies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits housing discrimination based on criminal history, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce barriers for reentry and promote rehabilitation.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits blanket rental denials based on criminal history, strengthening tenant protections and preventing housing discrimination per bill language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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passed · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 6463: Authorizes the transfer of pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals to residential treatment facilities

Authorizes the transfer of pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals to residential treatment facilities; requires annual reporting on the number of such incarcerated individuals transferred.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes transfers to treatment facilities for pregnant/postpartum inmates, promoting rehabilitation and reducing harmful incarceration practices within corrections reform.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTransfers incarcerated pregnant/postpartum individuals to residential treatment facilities, improving healthcare access for a vulnerable population.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5283: Relates to parole eligibility for crimes committed at age twenty-one or younger

Relates to parole eligibility for crimes committed at age twenty-one or younger; provides if such individual is convicted of a crime prior to their twenty-second birthday for which they were sentenced to a period of incarceration greater than 20 years, they shall be eligible for parole after fifteen years of incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces parole wait time from 20+ years to 15 for young offenders, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of rehabilitation and reduced recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 825: Relates to giving prosecutors' offices access to law enforcement records for discovery purposes

Requires police departments and agencies to provide district attorneys' offices access to such departments' and agencies' electronic record systems for discovery purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures prosecutors access to police records for discovery, facilitating fair trials and protecting defendant rights per criminal justice standards.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 6727: Relates to the evidentiary standard for evidentiary and disciplinary hearings

This bill (S 6727) changes the evidentiary standard for disciplinary and evidentiary hearings in New York's correction system. It replaces the current "substantial evidence" standard with the higher "preponderance of the evidence" standard (meaning it is more likely than not that the facts support the decision). This directly affects inmates and staff facing disciplinary actions in correctional facilities, as it raises the bar for evidence required to uphold those decisions. If enacted, the change would apply to all such hearings under the Correction Law and take effect 90 days after becoming law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill raises evidentiary standard in correctional disciplinary hearings, requiring stronger evidence to protect inmates' rights from unfair punishment. Aligns with criminal justice reform by enhancing due process.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6873: Relates to the automatic expungement of records of arrest

This bill automatically expunges arrest records in New York for individuals whose arrests were later deemed "voidable" (e.g., no charges filed, lack of probable cause, or dismissed charges). Courts must issue expungement orders within 30 days of the arrest becoming voidable, requiring all law enforcement agencies to destroy physical records like photos, fingerprints, and digital copies (except retained fingerprint cards). Affected individuals can later answer employment inquiries as if the arrest never occurred. The law directly benefits people with specific dismissed or unjustified arrests by removing barriers to employment and housing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically expunges voidable arrest records, reducing employment barriers and advancing criminal justice reform by addressing wrongful arrests and promoting reintegration.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes employment barriers by automatically expunging voidable arrest records, allowing individuals to answer job inquiries as if arrests never occurred, directly advancing workers' job opportunities.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates destruction of digital arrest records, directly protecting data privacy by removing personal digital data from systems per expungement requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4006: Provides that conviction of assault on a social services worker which prevents them from performing a lawful duty is a felony

This bill amends New York's penal law to classify assault against social services workers as a class C felony when it prevents them from performing their lawful duties. It specifically covers workers providing services like child welfare, counseling, or crisis intervention, and applies when the assault causes serious injury. The law upgrades penalties for such assaults from a misdemeanor to a felony, aligning them with protections for police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. This change directly affects social services workers and sets clear criminal penalties for violent acts targeting their ability to carry out essential community roles.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill upgrades assault penalties for social services workers to felony, aligning with protections for emergency personnel, strengthening criminal justice protections.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens workplace safety for social services workers by classifying assault preventing duty performance as a felony, aligning with protections for first responders.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5019: Relates to the discharging of certain sentences

This bill (S 5019) expands eligibility for early sentence termination by making **all felony convictions** eligible for discharge, removing prior restrictions that excluded certain felonies under New York's Penal Law. It directly affects individuals serving felony sentences under community supervision who have completed **three consecutive years** without revocation. The parole board may grant discharge if it determines this is in society's best interest, provided the person has made a good-faith effort to pay restitution, fees, and surcharges. The discharge ends the sentence entirely for the affected offense, with no automatic eligibility. This changes the current law by removing exclusions for specific felony types.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands early sentence termination to all felonies, removing restrictions, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through broader eligibility for discharge.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing Victims' Rights

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5187: Designates offenses against law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel as hate crimes

Bill A 5187 expands the definition of hate crimes to include offenses committed against law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. It amends existing law to classify an offense as a hate crime if the perpetrator intentionally targets an individual based on their actual or perceived employment in these roles. This means that crimes motivated by bias against these public safety workers could be prosecuted as hate crimes. The bill also provides specific definitions for who qualifies as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services personnel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hate crime protections for law enforcement, increasing penalties for bias-motivated attacks against public safety workers, strengthening accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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