Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6456: Expands prison work release program eligibility and participation

Bill S 6456 expands eligibility for incarcerated individuals to participate in prison work release programs by extending the required proximity to parole or conditional release. Most participants will now be eligible three years, instead of two, prior to release, and those with certain violent offenses will be eligible thirty months, up from eighteen. The bill also extends this three-year eligibility to individuals convicted of homicide offenses related to domestic abuse by the victim. Furthermore, it prohibits the governor from issuing executive orders to exclude classes of otherwise eligible individuals and adds aggravated harassment of an employee by an incarcerated individual to the list of ineligible offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands work release eligibility to enhance rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Probation & Parole Violent Crime

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1956: Requires mental health services for incarcerated individuals with mental health issues related to the trauma of incarceration

Requires mental health services for incarcerated individuals with mental health issues related to the trauma of incarceration upon reentry and reintegration into society upon release.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mental health services for incarcerated individuals upon reentry, directly supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health services for incarcerated individuals upon release, directly supporting mental health care access as per bill's explicit requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 392: Relates to aggravated harassment of an employee by an incarcerated individual

This bill (S 392) amends New York's penal law to specifically include "intentional expectoration of saliva" as a form of aggravated harassment against facility employees. It directly affects incarcerated individuals who intentionally spit at staff members in correctional facilities, parole offices, mental health facilities, or probation departments. The key change adds saliva to the list of prohibited substances (along with blood, urine, etc.) that can constitute harassment when thrown, tossed, or expelled toward employees. This expands existing protections for staff by clarifying that spitting is now explicitly covered under the aggravated harassment statute.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds saliva to prohibited harassment acts against facility staff in corrections, strengthening security protocols and staff protection within criminal justice facilities.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects facility staff by criminalizing saliva as harassment, enhancing workplace safety for employees in correctional settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Employment Discrimination

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Feb 25, 2026

A 6599: Establishes the office of chief medical examiner

This bill creates an independent office of chief medical examiner within the Department of Corrections, staffed by medically qualified professionals (doctors with forensic pathology certification and death investigation experience). It requires the office to conduct independent autopsies and investigations for all deaths in correctional facilities, collect detailed data on each death, and publish public annual reports including cause, manner, and demographic details of incarcerated individuals who died. The office must also issue preliminary death reports within 90 days of an incident and share all reports with district attorneys, the attorney general, and the legislature. This directly affects all individuals incarcerated in state correctional facilities by establishing standardized, transparent oversight of death investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates independent oversight for prison deaths, enhancing transparency and accountability in corrections, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4636: Relates to providing notice to the crime victim or victim's representative that a parolee or releasee is being discharged or released

Requires the parole board to provide notice to the crime victim or victim's representative that a parolee or releasee is being discharged or released.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires parole board to notify crime victims of release, enhancing victim rights in corrections85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6322: Creates the office of the correctional ombudsperson

Creates the office of the correctional ombudsperson to achieve transparency, fairness, impartiality and accountability in New York state correctional facilities; relates to reports by coroners; designates investigators of the office of the correctional ombudsperson as peace officers; authorizes the attorney general to investigate the alleged commission of any criminal offense committed by an employee of the department of corrections and community supervision in connection with their official duties; relates to the confidentiality of certain records; includes the office of the correctional ombudsperson records within the definition of public safety agency records; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates correctional ombudsperson office to ensure transparency, accountability, and oversight in facilities, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4584: Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to offer civic engagement courses to incarcerated individuals prior to their release

Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to provide a nonpartisan, peer-led civic engagement program for incarcerated individuals in all correctional facilities in this state which shall be completed by each incarcerated individual within one year prior to their release.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates civic engagement programs for incarcerated individuals pre-release to reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 539: Relates to a negotiated sentence of imprisonment

Provides that a pre-sentence investigation and written report thereon shall not be required where a negotiated sentence of imprisonment for a term of three hundred sixty-five days or less has been mutually agreed upon by the parties with consent of the judge, as a result of a conviction or revocation of a sentence of probation; removes the requirement of solely in a city with a population of one million or more.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves pre-sentence investigation requirement for negotiated 365-day sentences, streamlining process and reducing bureaucratic hurdles in sentencing - aligns with reform efforts to improve efficiency.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7503: Authorizes courts to reduce or modify sentences for certain individuals when such sentence is deemed to be greater than necessary to achieve the purposes of sentencing

Authorizes courts to reduce or modify sentences for certain individuals when such sentence is deemed to be greater than necessary to achieve the purposes of sentencing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows courts to reduce excessive sentences, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to prevent unnecessary harshness and promote proportionality in sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 292: Relates to sentencing of person convicted of murdering a minor

Provides that a person convicted of murder in the first or second degree, or aggravated murder, in the death of a minor shall be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates life without parole for murder of a minor, increasing mandatory sentence severity. This opposes criminal justice reform trends seeking reduced harsh sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track