Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 390: Permits at the discretion of the court certain members of the victim's family to read statements in court during the sentencing of a defendant

Permits at the discretion of the court certain members of the deceased victim's family to read statements in court during the sentencing of a defendant, rather than allowing only a single member of the victim's family to read a statement in court, upon consultation with counsel for the defendant and the people.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim impact statements during sentencing, enhancing victim voice in criminal justice proceedings per reform-focused victim advocacy principles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7807: Authorizes fiat-collateralized stablecoins as a form of bail

Authorizes fiat-collateralized stablecoins as a form of bail; directs the commissioner of taxation and finance, in conjunction with the chief justice of the unified court system and the director of the office of information technology services, to promulgate rules and regulations identifying forms of fiat-collateralized stablecoin acceptable for posting bail to establish a system for the administration of the acceptance, recording and processing of stablecoins as a means of securing bail.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes stablecoin bail as alternative to cash, expanding pretrial release options aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing cash bail reliance.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAuthorizes fiat-collateralized stablecoins (a tech-based financial instrument) for bail, advancing their integration into legal systems without restrictions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2357: Release of persons charged with certain crimes involving possession of a firearm on their own recognizance or under non-monetary conditions, bail or custody of the sheriff

Authorizes the court the discretion to release persons charged with certain crimes involving possession of a firearm on their own recognizance or under non-monetary conditions, fix bail, or commit the person to the custody of the sheriff.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows courts discretion to release firearm possession defendants without bail, reducing pretrial detention - a key criminal justice reform measure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Firearms

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passed both · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 1004: Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial

This bill amends New York's criminal procedure law to clarify how courts assess whether a defendant has the mental capacity to stand trial. It requires psychiatric examiners to specifically evaluate whether "restoration services" (such as medication support, competency training, or symptom management) could reasonably restore a defendant's capacity within a set timeframe, and include this assessment in their reports. The bill directly affects defendants in criminal cases who may lack mental capacity due to illness or disability, ensuring their evaluation process considers potential treatment pathways. Key provisions define "restoration services" and mandate that examiners' reports detail the feasibility of such services before a court decides on next steps.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to assess restoration services for defendant competency, promoting fair trials and rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4606: Relates to sealing of dismissals and violations that are more than twenty years old

This bill (A 4606) allows individuals to petition courts to seal criminal records from cases dismissed or terminated in their favor more than 20 years ago, specifically including traffic violations (excluding DWI). It directly affects people with old, non-conviction records who seek to have these records removed from public view. The process requires applicants to submit a request to the court clerk, who must seal the records if the case was resolved favorably, and law enforcement must destroy related evidence like fingerprints. The bill updates existing sealing procedures to automatically cover qualifying cases over two decades old, streamlining access to record relief.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSeals old non-conviction records (including traffic violations), reducing barriers to employment/housing and aligning with reform goals to promote rehabilitation and protect civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4001: Relates to criminal history record searches and open warrants

This bill (S 4001) changes how criminal history records are handled when open warrants exist. It requires the state Division of Criminal Justice to exclude references to open warrants from background reports if a new court report arrives for the case but does not confirm the warrant was recalled. The exclusion applies only to standard background reports, not to information shared with law enforcement, for research, or for the Division's internal use. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExcludes open warrants from standard background reports to prevent unfair discrimination, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2313: Relates to setting bail for defendants that pose a current physical threat to public safety

Requires the court to make an individualized determination whether a defendant poses a current physical threat to any person or to public safety when making a bail determination.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires individualized bail assessment for dangerous defendants, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of evidence-based decisions to balance public safety and defendant rights.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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passed both · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 329: Facilitates appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern

This bill (S 329) changes criminal procedure rules to allow defendants to appeal a judge's decision denying a motion to suppress evidence - even if they later enter a guilty plea. It directly affects criminal defendants who want to challenge evidence rulings that may involve issues of public concern. The key provision amends the law to make such denial orders "reviewable upon appeal" from the final conviction, removing a previous barrier that prevented appeals after a guilty plea. This provides a clearer path for defendants to seek appellate review of critical evidence rulings without being barred by their own plea. The change applies to all criminal cases where evidence suppression is contested.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows defendants to appeal evidence suppression rulings after guilty plea, strengthening due process rights in criminal proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 9097: Requires disclosure of use of generative artificial intelligence to clients, criminal defendants, and the court

This bill requires legal professionals and self-represented individuals to disclose when they use generative AI for legal research, document review, or drafting court filings. It directly affects all lawyers, defendants, and pro se litigants who prepare court documents. Key provisions mandate: obtaining client or defendant consent after warning about AI risks, attaching a written statement disclosing AI use, and certifying that a human verified all content (including case citations). The bill applies to both civil and criminal cases, with separate affidavits required for AI-assisted or AI-free filings. It does not restrict AI use but mandates transparency and human oversight in legal work.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires disclosure to criminal defendants about AI use, ensuring informed consent and human verification. Protects defendant rights in legal representation, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice.80% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates AI disclosure and human verification in legal contexts to protect client privacy and prevent AI errors, aligning with data privacy safeguards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6534: Relates to the timeframe for filing pre-trial motions in criminal cases

This bill (S 6534) changes the deadline for filing pre-trial motions in criminal cases, requiring all motions to be filed within 45 days after arraignment or after specific disclosures (like evidence or warrants), whichever is later. It directly affects defendants in criminal cases, including those representing themselves (pro se) or needing time to secure counsel. The key provision extends the filing window to 45 days after certain events (such as disclosure of evidence or eavesdropping warrants) and resets the clock when a defendant without counsel gets assigned new representation. The change aims to provide clearer timelines for court proceedings while accounting for complex case factors.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends pre-trial motion deadline to 45 days, granting defendants more time to prepare cases and secure counsel, directly protecting procedural rights in criminal proceedings.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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