Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 128: Requires notice to crime victims that they have the right to attend interviews between the board of parole and the incarcerated individual; requires the board of parole to review victim impact statements

Requires the notice to crime victims of case disposition to inform the victim of the right to attend interviews between the board of parole and the incarcerated individual in cases where the final disposition includes a felony defined in article one hundred twenty-five of the penal law that results in the commitment of the defendant to the custody of the department of corrections and community supervision for an indeterminate sentence; requires the board of parole to review victim impact statements, failure to review such statements shall make a hearing by the board of parole invalid.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates victim notification and review of impact statements in parole hearings, enhancing victim rights within criminal justice reform process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 895: Relates to the automatic expungement of records of arrest

S 895 requires courts to automatically expunge arrest records when an arrest is deemed "voidable" (meaning no charges were filed, the arrest lacked probable cause, or charges were dismissed). It mandates that courts issue expungement orders within 30 days of an arrest becoming voidable, and directs law enforcement agencies to destroy physical records like photos, fingerprints, and documents within the same timeframe. Individuals affected can answer employment questions as if the arrest never occurred, and courts must notify both the person and their attorney of the expungement. This applies to all arrests meeting the "voidable" criteria in New York, streamlining record clearance without requiring individual petitions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically expunges voidable arrest records, reducing barriers to employment and advancing criminal justice reform by clearing unjust records that hinder rehabilitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 608: Expands prison work release program eligibility and participation

This bill expands eligibility for New York's prison work release programs by extending the timeframe for parole eligibility from two to three years before release. It allows incarcerated individuals convicted of homicide or assault to qualify if they prove they were abused by the victim and the abuse contributed to the crime, requiring documentation like hospital records or police reports. The bill excludes those convicted of serious offenses like sex crimes, terrorism, or child sexual abuse from participating. It also requires the commissioner to consult prosecutors and courts before approving exceptions, while maintaining restrictions on those with escape convictions or certain violent histories. This directly affects incarcerated people in New York state facilities seeking work release opportunities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands prison work release eligibility to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like improved correctional programming.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Probation & Parole Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly May 28, 2026

A 4144: Prohibits state chartered banking institutions from investing in and providing financing for private prisons

This bill bans state-chartered banks from financing or investing in private prisons. It directly affects all state-chartered banking institutions by prohibiting them from providing loans, purchasing stocks, or funding any entity that operates a private correctional facility (a facility that would be illegal under existing state law if located in the state). The law applies to all new or modified contracts starting immediately upon enactment. This creates a clear policy change restricting financial support for private prison operations within the state's banking sector.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans state bank financing of private prisons, reducing for-profit correctional facilities - a key criminal justice reform focus to improve oversight and reduce recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 3, 2026

A 2121: Relates to voting rights and access for incarcerated individuals

Relates to voting rights and access for incarcerated individuals; authorizes polling places to be available at correctional facilities and local facilities; requires such facilities to provide persons detained or confined in such facilities access to register to vote or apply for an absentee ballot; requires voting information to be included in the inmate handbook.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands voting access for incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to protect civil rights and aid reintegration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8182: Provides for access to legal counsel when a correctional facility has suspended visiting privileges

Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to establish procedures to allow an incarcerated individual in a correctional facility which has suspended visiting privileges to have private meetings with their legal counsel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures incarcerated individuals maintain access to legal counsel during facility visiting suspensions, protecting defendant rights and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5356: Directs the office of mental health to conduct a study on the effects of abuse suffered while incarcerated on formerly incarcerated individuals

This bill requires the Office of Mental Health, working with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, to study how abuse experienced during incarceration affects formerly incarcerated individuals. The study must examine both short-term and long-term mental, behavioral, and physical health impacts, associated costs, and identify effective treatment approaches. Within one year of the bill's effective date, the Office must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the governor and legislative leaders. The bill directly affects formerly incarcerated people by mandating an analysis of abuse-related harms they face post-incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStudies incarceration abuse effects to inform mental health treatments, advancing rehabilitation efforts in criminal justice reform85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates study on incarceration abuse's mental health impacts to identify effective treatments, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6054: Establishes a statewide law enforcement officer misconduct database

Directs the division of criminal justice services to establish a statewide public database covering every local police department, each county sheriff's office, the division of the state police and every agency that employs a peace officer in this state, which shall compile the names of any police or peace officer who has had their employment terminated due to misconduct.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates public database for officer misconduct terminations, directly enhancing police accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4000: 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 by banning race/ethnicity as sole factor for arrest, directly advancing civil rights and police accountability in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7657: Establishes a bill of rights for family members and visitors of incarcerated individuals

Establishes a bill of rights for family members and visitors of incarcerated individuals including the establishment of an independent office for visitation oversight to monitor implementation, receive complaints, and ensure compliance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes oversight for family visitation rights, promoting family connections to reduce recidivism and protect civil rights in corrections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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