Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3281: Relates to conviction sealing for certain applicants

S 3281 expands eligibility for sealing certain criminal convictions in New York. It allows individuals convicted of up to five eligible offenses (including up to two felonies) to apply for sealing, provided they meet a 10-year waiting period after their sentence or release from incarceration. The bill specifically excludes sex offenses, violent felonies, and other serious crimes from eligibility. Applicants must submit documentation to the court, and prosecutors have 45 days to object; if they don’t, sealing may proceed. This directly affects people with non-violent, non-sex-related convictions who have maintained a clean record for a decade.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands eligibility to seal non-violent convictions, aiding reintegration and reducing recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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passed · New York · Senate May 29, 2026

S 7928: Limits the suspension or revocation of an individual's driver's license when participating in a treatment court program

Limits the suspension or revocation of an individual's driver's license when an individual takes a certain plea involving participation in certain treatment court programs or the court allowed the individual to withdraw their previously entered plea of guilty, and plead guilty to a lesser charge or the department revoked or suspended the individual's driver's license upon a plea of guilty and at least six months have elapsed since such initial plea.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents driver's license suspension for treatment court participants, promoting rehabilitation over punitive measures in criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3210: Allows access to juvenile delinquency records for the purposes of a firearm background check

This bill (S 3210) expands firearm background checks for applicants under 22 years old by requiring state agencies to provide juvenile delinquency records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It directly affects individuals under 22 seeking to purchase firearms, as their juvenile court records - previously not included in background checks for this age group - will now be accessible. The key mechanism is an amendment to the Family Court Act, mandating that juvenile delinquency records be made available to NICS and state police for background checks under federal law. This creates a concrete policy change in how firearm eligibility is assessed for young adults.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands firearm background checks to include juvenile records, enhancing public safety measures within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Juvenile Justice

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5740: Requires the office of court administration to study racial disparities in jury selection pools and juror selection

Requires the office of court administration to study racial disparities in jury selection pools and juror selection and make recommendations that can be undertaken to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in jury selection pools and juror selection.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates study to reduce racial disparities in jury selection, directly promoting equity in criminal justice reform and civil rights protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1074: Relates to the court's consideration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances and significant physical injury in determining whether to remove adolescent offenders to family court

Relates to the court's consideration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances and significant physical injury in determining whether to remove adolescent offenders to family court; defines such terms; provides factors for the court's consideration of whether extraordinary circumstances exist.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill modifies juvenile court procedures to consider individual circumstances, reducing automatic transfers to adult court for adolescents, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5272: Sets hourly rates for persons representing certain persons in court or before a magistrate

This bill sets pay rates for court-appointed lawyers representing people who cannot afford legal representation. It establishes $158 per hour for misdemeanor cases (both in and out of court) and $164 per hour for all other cases, with annual adjustments starting in 2027 based on federal standards. Total case payments are capped at $10,000 (adjusted annually), and lawyers must submit sworn statements detailing their work to receive reimbursement. The policy directly affects appointed defense attorneys in county court proceedings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes government spending for court-appointed lawyers via set pay rates and reimbursement caps, directly funding public defense services within state budget framework.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSets fair hourly rates ($158-$164) for appointed defense attorneys, improving access to quality legal representation for indigent defendants, a key criminal justice reform principle.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · New York · Assembly Sep 8, 2025

A 3635: Relates to supporting depositions that are served at the time of issuance of a simplified information

This bill (A 3635) gives defendants charged under a simplified information (a streamlined process for minor offenses) the right to receive a written statement from the police officer or public servant who issued the charge. The statement must explain why the officer believes the defendant committed the offense, based on their knowledge or information. If a defendant requests this statement before pleading guilty or before trial (within 30 days of their court appearance date), the court must order the officer to serve it to the defendant or their attorney within 30 days or five days before trial - whichever comes first. This change ensures defendants have access to the officer's factual basis for the charge before trial.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides defendants with officer's justification for charges, enhancing due process and transparency in minor offense cases, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate May 12, 2025

S 2696: Relates to proof of claims for unjust conviction and imprisonment

This bill, S 2696, amends the Court of Claims Act to expand the eligibility requirements for individuals seeking compensation for unjust conviction and imprisonment. It broadens the specific legal grounds under which a person whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated can file a claim against the state. The changes include additional provisions from the criminal procedure law and cases where the statute underlying the conviction, or its application, violated the U.S. or New York State Constitution. This allows more individuals who were unjustly imprisoned to pursue a claim for damages.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands compensation for unjust convictions, directly addressing wrongful convictions and promoting accountability in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 564: Relates to special restrictions on campaign contributions for district attorney candidates

Relates to special restrictions on campaign contributions for district attorney candidates; requires such candidates to disclose to the board of elections the acceptance of campaign contributions from any law firm that represents defendants in criminal proceedings in any court in the state or from any licensed attorney employed by such law firm.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires disclosure of defense-related campaign contributions to prevent DA conflicts of interest, enhancing accountability in criminal justice.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6324: Relates to the court's consideration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances and significant physical injury in determining whether to remove adolescent offenders to family court

Relates to the court's consideration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances and significant physical injury in determining whether to remove adolescent offenders to family court; defines such terms; provides factors for the court's consideration of whether extraordinary circumstances exist.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates courts to consider extraordinary circumstances and physical injury before transferring adolescent offenders to family court, promoting juvenile justice reform by reducing unnecessary adult court involvement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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