Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2682: Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to publicly post certain information after the death of an individual in the custody of the department

Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to publicly post the name, identifying information and a summary incident report after the death of an individual in the custody of the department.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public posting of incident reports after custody deaths, enhancing transparency and accountability in corrections oversight, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1406: Establishes a special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute matters involving the death of an unarmed civilian caused by a law enforcement officer

S 1406 creates a special prosecutor appointed by the governor to investigate and prosecute cases where an unarmed civilian dies due to a police officer's actions. This special prosecutor takes over investigations and prosecutions from local district attorneys in these specific cases, working full-time on them without other duties. The prosecutor must report to the governor and legislature whenever they decline to pursue charges or a grand jury refuses to indict, including explanations and reform recommendations. The position serves a 3-year term with specific removal grounds like misconduct or inefficiency.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates independent special prosecutor for police-involved civilian deaths, enhancing law enforcement accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3600: Decriminalizes possession of controlled substances, establishes the drug decriminalization task force; repealer

Eliminates criminal and civil penalties for possession of controlled substances; establishes the drug decriminalization task force to develop recommendations for reforming state laws, regulations and practices so that they align with the stated goal of treating substance use disorder as a disease, rather than a criminal behavior.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes drug possession, treats substance use as health issue not crime, aligns with reform goals to reduce criminalization and prioritize treatment over punishment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly treats substance use disorder as a disease (not criminal), removing barriers to healthcare access and aligning with public health approaches to treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7181: Relates to traffic stops conducted by law enforcement officers involving racial profiling

Relates to traffic stops conducted by law enforcement officers; defines "racial profiling"; authorizes division of criminal justice services to conduct a study relating to racial profiling; prohibits use of race or ethnicity of an individual as the sole factor in determining the existence of probable cause to place such person under arrest or take into custody.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits racial profiling in traffic stops, enhancing police accountability and protecting civil rights per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 505: Relates to concealment and/or mutilation of a human corpse

This bill makes it a class E felony to intentionally hide, alter, damage, or destroy a human body or body part with the purpose of preventing it from being used as evidence in legal proceedings (e.g., court cases, autopsies, or criminal investigations). It specifically excludes funeral directors, embalmers, and organ donation activities under existing public health law from this prohibition. The law also adds this offense to criteria affecting bail decisions in criminal cases, but its core focus is defining the crime itself. The policy change directly affects individuals who might tamper with remains to obstruct justice, while protecting standard funeral and medical practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by making concealment of evidence (human body) a felony, aiding investigations and court proceedings while excluding legitimate activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1402: Relates to the execution of a warrant of arrest and establishes educational programs for judicial personnel on the law of searches, arrests and seizures

Relates to the execution of a warrant of arrest; authorizes the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services to establish a system to record and monitor the issuance and execution of search warrants; authorizes the chief administrator of the court system to establish educational programs for judicial personnel on the law of searches, arrests and seizures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes warrant monitoring system and judicial training on searches/arrests, enhancing accountability and legal compliance in criminal justice procedures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 4406: Authorizes the use of closed-circuit television for vulnerable sexual assault witnesses

Authorizes the use of closed-circuit television for vulnerable sexual assault witnesses; establishes a procedure for determining who qualifies as a vulnerable sexual assault witness.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes CCTVs for vulnerable sexual assault witnesses, protecting victim rights and improving court testimony procedures within criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1138: Prohibits interference with the provision of medical assistance to incarcerated individuals

Prohibits any police officer, peace officer or employee of a correctional facility from interfering with the provision of medical assistance to an incarcerated individual.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents interference with medical care for incarcerated individuals, protecting civil rights and aligning with criminal justice reform in corrections.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents interference with medical care for incarcerated individuals, protecting patient access to healthcare services within correctional facilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7776: Establishes conviction integrity units

Establishes conviction integrity units; describes conviction integrity units; creates definitions; provides that a prosecution agency may create a conviction integrity unit to review convictions; provides that a conviction integrity unit may make recommendations for changes in convictions and sentences obtained by the prosecution agency; grants the prosecution agency discretion regarding the conviction integrity unit's recommendations; requires notice to the victim if a petition is filed by the prosecution agency; gives the superior court the discretion to provide relief.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes conviction integrity units to review and correct wrongful convictions, advancing criminal justice reform through enhanced accuracy and accountability in sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1013: Relates to prohibiting the use of chemical agents by police officers against minors

This bill prohibits police officers from using chemical agents - such as pepper spray, tear gas, or oleoresin capsicum - against any minor under 18 years old in all circumstances. It directly affects minors under 18 and requires all police departments to update their use-of-force policies to ban these chemical agents. The law amends existing policy rules to explicitly forbid such use, applying immediately upon enactment. This is a policy change to restrict specific police tactics targeting children, with no exemptions or exceptions specified.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans police use of chemical agents against minors, protecting civil rights and enhancing police accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing

Track