Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate May 20, 2026

S 1671: Authorizes the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to discipline certain employees for acts of serious misconduct

Authorizes the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to discipline certain employees for acts of serious misconduct; defines serious misconduct; establishes procedures for such disciplinary action; prohibits employees who have been removed for serious misconduct from being placed on the eligible list after such removal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes disciplinary procedures for correctional staff misconduct, enhancing accountability within corrections - a key component of criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4220: Prohibits medical parole for persons convicted of an act of terrorism

This bill amends New York's medical parole law to explicitly prohibit incarcerated individuals convicted of "an act of terrorism" (as defined in Penal Law § 490.05) from qualifying for medical parole. It directly affects people serving sentences for terrorism convictions, barring them from eligibility regardless of their medical condition or sentence length. The law adds terrorism to the list of offenses that disqualify individuals from medical parole, which previously excluded only certain violent crimes like first-degree murder. This change does not alter the medical parole process for other offenses but specifically removes terrorism convictions from consideration. The bill focuses solely on eligibility criteria, not on modifying medical evaluation standards or release conditions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill explicitly blocks medical parole eligibility for terrorism convicts, restricting defendant rights and increasing sentence length per Penal Law § 490.05.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 103: Enacts the "New York religious freedom act"

S 103, the "New York Religious Freedom Act," prohibits state and local agencies and law enforcement from collecting, sharing, or using personally identifiable information about individuals' religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations for government databases related to law enforcement or immigration. It specifically bans using public funds or resources to create or enforce such databases and restricts sharing religious data with federal authorities, except in limited cases like targeted criminal investigations with a clear link to the crime or for providing religious accommodations. The law also terminates existing agreements that conflict with these restrictions and clarifies that agencies may still share citizenship or immigration status information as permitted under federal law. This directly affects all New York state and local government agencies handling personal data.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents law enforcement from collecting religious data, protecting civil rights in criminal justice contexts per bill's prohibition on religious data use in databases.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationS 103 prohibits state/local agencies from collecting/sharing religious data for immigration databases and restricts sharing with federal authorities, limiting enforcement.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill prohibits government collection/sharing of religious data, enhancing data privacy protections aligned with technology policy goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Data Privacy

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2711: Prohibits level 2 and 3 sex offenders from residing within 1,500 feet of their victim or school grounds; also prohibits such offenders from attending school activities

Prohibits level 2 and 3 sex offenders from residing within 1,500 feet of their victim or school grounds; prohibits such offenders from attending or participating in school sponsored activities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts sex offenders' proximity to schools/victims to enhance public safety, directly reducing recidivism risk and protecting vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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failed · New York · Assembly May 5, 2026

A 4499: Provides that persons arrested for domestic violence forfeit bail when violating an order of protection

This bill requires individuals arrested for domestic violence to forfeit any posted bail if they later violate an existing order of protection. It directly affects people charged with domestic violence offenses who breach protection orders issued under various state laws or valid out-of-state orders. The key provision automatically cancels bail upon violation, without requiring a separate court hearing for forfeiture. The law covers protection orders from multiple legal sources, including domestic relations law and family court act provisions. This changes the process by making bail forfeiture automatic upon violation of the order.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires automatic bail forfeiture for domestic violence offenders violating protection orders, strengthening enforcement against repeat offenses and enhancing victim protection within criminal justice framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 9005: Establishing a waiver program allowing for longer stays at domestic violence shelters

Establishes a waiver program allowing a domestic violence residential program to apply to the office of children and family services for a waiver enabling a victim of domestic violence to remain at the program's shelter for a period exceeding one hundred and eighty days.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables extended shelter stays for domestic violence victims, supporting victim safety and reducing re-victimization within criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 9, 2026

S 4551: Relates to degree-granting programs offered by SUNY's office of higher education in prison

Creates within SUNY an office of higher education in prison to coordinate access to higher education for individuals during and after incarceration; directs such office to create a plan by 1/1/2029 to establish a degree-granting program in every viable correctional facility in the state; directs such office to enroll at least 2,000 students in degree-granting programs as soon as practicable; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates prison higher education programs to reduce recidivism through rehabilitation, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates SUNY office to expand higher education access for incarcerated individuals, mandating degree programs in correctional facilities and 2,000+ student enrollment, directly advancing educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Higher Education

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3975: Permits emergency medical parole during a time of crisis

Permits emergency medical parole during a time of crisis to those that have a disability and who are at serious risk for death, disease or other harm due to an emergency disaster being declared provided such person has a reasonably stable living situation upon release and does not pose an unreasonable current public safety risk.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePermits medical parole for vulnerable inmates during crises, reducing unnecessary incarceration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like rehabilitation and humane treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6843: Relates to the possession and sale of methamphetamine

This bill aligns penalties for methamphetamine possession and sale with those for heroin and cocaine by adjusting weight thresholds in New York's penal law. It lowers the minimum amounts triggering higher penalties - for example, setting possession at 100 milligrams (previously higher) and sales at 1 gram, matching current heroin/cocaine thresholds. The law directly affects individuals caught with methamphetamine in quantities meeting these new weight limits. Key provisions revise multiple sections of the penal code to standardize these weight-based penalties across controlled substances. The changes apply only to offenses committed on or after the effective date (November 1, 2025).

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill lowers methamphetamine possession/sale thresholds to match heroin/cocaine penalties, increasing severity for smaller amounts. Expands criminalization and opposes reform by raising sentencing thresholds.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Senate May 14, 2026

S 5803: Requires the New York city department of corrections and the New York city health and hospitals corporation to adopt safety policies to protect health care workers who treat incarcerated individuals

Requires the New York city department of corrections and the New York city health and hospitals corporation to adopt safety policies to protect health care workers who treat incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires safety policies for healthcare workers in correctional facilities, enhancing conditions and aligning with criminal justice reform by improving facility safety standards.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates safety policies for healthcare workers treating incarcerated individuals, directly protecting healthcare providers in healthcare delivery.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires safety policies for healthcare workers treating incarcerated individuals, directly improving workplace safety protections for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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