Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6878: Relates to withholding certain information during discovery where the defendant is associated with a criminal street gang or the offense is connected to a criminal street gang or criminal enterprise activity

Permits the court to withhold names, contact information, and statements of any victim or eyewitness from discovery where the defendant is associated with a criminal street gang or the offense is connected to a criminal street gang or criminal enterprise activity.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts defendant discovery rights in gang cases by permitting withholding of victim/witness info, reducing access to evidence.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2583: Provides grants related to the expansion and support of crisis intervention services and training programs

Relates to providing ten million dollars annually to be used for the provision of grants related to the expansion and support of crisis intervention services and diversion programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds crisis intervention and diversion programs, key criminal justice reform measures to reduce incarceration and improve rehabilitation.90% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3619: Relates to burglary on a premises used as a farm operation

S 3619 amends New York's burglary law to specifically include "real property used as a farm operation" as a scenario that elevates burglary to second degree. This means entering or remaining unlawfully on a farm property with criminal intent - such as stealing equipment or livestock - would now automatically be classified as second-degree burglary, a class C felony. The bill directly affects farm owners and operators by extending the same legal protections against burglary that apply to residential dwellings, and it affects individuals committing such burglaries by increasing the potential penalties. The change clarifies that farm operations, as defined under agriculture law, are explicitly protected under this burglary statute.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeElevates burglary on farms to class C felony, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization without reform intent.90% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1083: Prohibits the use of chemical weapons and kinetic energy munitions on civilian populations

Requires the division of criminal justice services to establish a policy prohibiting police agencies from using chemical weapons and kinetic energy munitions on civilian populations and from acquiring and stockpiling such weapons or munitions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits police use of chemical/knife weapons on civilians, enhancing accountability and protecting civil rights in law enforcement - a core criminal justice reform indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5206: Establishes the police training council; repealer

Repeals the municipal police training council; creates the police training council to establish a statewide mandatory training curriculum for all law enforcement agencies established with police officer or peace officer status throughout the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates statewide mandatory police training curriculum to standardize officer training, enhancing accountability and consistency in law enforcement practices.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

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

Track

failed · New York · Senate Aug 13, 2025

S 1648: Authorizes bail for principals charged with aggravated cruelty to animals

This bill (S 1648) would have amended New York's criminal procedure law to allow bail for defendants charged with "aggravated cruelty to animals" under Agriculture and Markets Law § 353-a. It specifically added this offense to existing bail eligibility provisions that previously included firearm-related crimes (like third-degree weapons possession). The bill was defeated in the Codes committee on May 5, 2025, and did not become law. It directly affected individuals charged with severe animal cruelty offenses by changing their bail eligibility under state law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands bail access for non-violent animal cruelty charges, reducing pretrial detention and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3526: Enacts Noah's Law; creates the crimes of child abuse, vulnerable elderly person or incompetent or physically disabled person abuse, and torture

S 3526, "Noah's Law," creates new criminal offenses for abuse of specific vulnerable groups and defines torture. It establishes two degrees of child abuse (second degree: class B felony for reckless harm or cruelty; first degree: class A felony for intentional serious harm) and similar abuse crimes for vulnerable elderly, incompetent, or disabled individuals. The bill also defines "torture" as intentionally causing severe physical injury or mental suffering to someone under one's custody, regardless of whether harm occurs, classified as a class A felony. These provisions directly affect individuals who commit such acts against children or vulnerable persons, creating specific criminal penalties where none existed before.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offenses and expands criminalization of abuse against vulnerable groups, aligning with OPPOSE indicators.95% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1568: Elevates killing a police work dog or police work horse from being a class E felony to a class D felony

Elevates the offense of killing a police work dog or police work horse from being a class E felony to a class D felony; establishes the class E felony of injuring a police work dog or police work horse for intentionally causing serious physical injury to a police work dog or police work horse while such dog or horse is performing its duties under the supervision of a police officer.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeElevates penalties for harming police animals, strengthening law enforcement protections within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4342: Enhances criminal investigations and prosecutions in relation to the integrity of statements of those accused of crimes

Enhances criminal investigations and prosecutions in relation to the integrity of statements of those accused of crimes and to promote confidence in the criminal justice system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances investigations/prosecutions via statement integrity, promoting system confidence per summary, aligning with support indicators.92% confidence

Track