Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole)

died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8172: Prohibits the obscuring of body-worn or stationary cameras in correctional institutions

Prohibits employees of the department of corrections and community supervision or a correctional facility from willfully obstructing, blocking or otherwise obscuring a body-worn or stationary camera from recording activities within a correctional facility for the purpose of hindering an existing or potential investigation, concealing a crime or criminal activity, or concealing otherwise unlawful behavior.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits obstructing cameras in correctional facilities to prevent concealment of misconduct, enhancing transparency and accountability in corrections oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5090: Relates to requiring the state board of parole to reflect the composition of the prison population in race, age and geographic area of residence

Alters the composition of the state board of parole to include members who shall adequately reflect the composition of the prison population in race, age, and geographic area of residence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires parole board to mirror prison demographics, promoting equitable representation in corrections system per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4953: Creates a temporary state commission to study and investigate issues affecting reentry of incarcerated individuals released from correctional facilities; appropriation

Creates a temporary state commission to study and investigate issues affecting reentry of incarcerated individuals released from correctional facilities; appropriates $250,000 therefor.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $250,000 for a state commission study, directly funding a government program through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates commission to study reentry issues, aiming to reduce recidivism through research and $250k funding - direct support for criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4808: Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to make efforts to reduce incarcerated individual telephone rates and to place a cap on the cost of outgoing calls

Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to make efforts to reduce incarcerated individual telephone rates and to place a cap on the cost of outgoing calls.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces financial barriers for incarcerated individuals to maintain family connections, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to improve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5531: Establishes the crime of aggravated forcible touching by an incarcerated individual

This bill (S 5531) creates a new class E felony offense for incarcerated individuals or juveniles in secure facilities who intentionally and without legitimate reason touch another person's intimate areas. It specifically targets situations where the victim is a facility employee (like correctional staff), parole board member, mental health worker, probation officer, or police officer, and the act is meant to degrade, abuse, or gratify sexual desire. The law applies to people in prison, local correctional facilities, hospitals under correctional law, or secure juvenile facilities operated by child services. Violating this law carries felony penalties, including potential imprisonment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates felony for inmate sexual misconduct against staff, enhancing safety and accountability in correctional facilities, aligning with criminal justice reform priorities.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects correctional staff (workers) from assault, directly enhancing workplace safety for employees in correctional facilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7019: Relates to tampering with electronic monitoring equipment

This bill creates two new criminal offenses related to interfering with electronic monitoring devices (like ankle bracelets used for house arrest or probation). It makes it a class A misdemeanor to intentionally tamper with or damage such equipment without authorization to disrupt its signals (second degree), and a class E felony if the tampering occurs while committing a serious felony (first degree). The first-degree offense requires the sentence to run consecutively to the underlying felony. The law directly affects individuals under electronic monitoring who attempt to bypass or disable the tracking devices.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offenses (misdemeanor/felony) for tampering with electronic monitoring, expanding criminalization. Aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 3746: Requires at least one member of the state board of parole be a formerly incarcerated person

This bill requires New York's state parole board to include at least one member who has been previously incarcerated. It directly affects the board's composition, which reviews prisoner release decisions and is appointed by the governor. The law amends existing statutes to mandate that one of the board's members must have firsthand experience with the prison system. This change is a concrete policy adjustment to the board's membership rules, without specifying how this experience would influence decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates parole board inclusion of formerly incarcerated person, advancing reform by incorporating lived experience into release decisions to improve rehabilitation and oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5283: Relates to parole eligibility for crimes committed at age twenty-one or younger

Relates to parole eligibility for crimes committed at age twenty-one or younger; provides if such individual is convicted of a crime prior to their twenty-second birthday for which they were sentenced to a period of incarceration greater than 20 years, they shall be eligible for parole after fifteen years of incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces parole wait time from 20+ years to 15 for young offenders, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of rehabilitation and reduced recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1276: Authorizes the court to order sexual offenders on probation to terms of imprisonment which run consecutively to sentences already being served

Authorizes the court to order sexual offenders on probation, where such probation has been revoked, to terms of imprisonment which run consecutively to sentences already being served.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates consecutive prison terms for sexual offenders with revoked probation, increasing sentence severity and opposing criminal justice reform efforts to reduce harsh sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5019: Relates to the discharging of certain sentences

This bill (S 5019) expands eligibility for early sentence termination by making **all felony convictions** eligible for discharge, removing prior restrictions that excluded certain felonies under New York's Penal Law. It directly affects individuals serving felony sentences under community supervision who have completed **three consecutive years** without revocation. The parole board may grant discharge if it determines this is in society's best interest, provided the person has made a good-faith effort to pay restitution, fees, and surcharges. The discharge ends the sentence entirely for the affected offense, with no automatic eligibility. This changes the current law by removing exclusions for specific felony types.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands early sentence termination to all felonies, removing restrictions, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through broader eligibility for discharge.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing Victims' Rights

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