Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5796: Relates to the definition of a sex offense

Relates to the definition of a sex offense; provides that if luring a child or the attempt thereto requires an actor to register as a sex offender, then the act is determined to be a sex offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeDefines luring children as sex offense requiring registration, expanding criminalization scope per bill language.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1400: Relates to providing increased and uniform training requirements and outreach for law enforcement and establishes law enforcement peer support

Relates to providing increased and uniform training requirements including implicit bias, use of force, first aid and firearm training, and outreach for law enforcement; establishes law enforcement peer support through the office of mental health.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates implicit bias and use of force training for law enforcement, establishes peer support for mental health, directly advancing accountability and reform within criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

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failed · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 2538: Requires law enforcement and courts to notify the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency when an arrested person or defendant is not a United States citizen; repealer

Requires law enforcement and courts to notify the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) when an arrested person or defendant is not a United States citizen; adjusts certain maximum sentences for class A misdemeanors and unclassified misdemeanors; requires notification to be made to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency prior to the release of certain noncitizens; repeals provisions of the "protect our courts act".

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires ICE notification for noncitizens, repeals 'Protect Our Courts Act' protections, enabling immigration detainers that bypass due process and increase detention without criminal charges.92% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill S 2538 mandates state law enforcement and courts to notify ICE about non-citizen arrests/defendants and prior to release, increasing state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6438: Provides for the re-enfranchisement of voters with felony convictions; repealer

This bill removes a disqualification for voting based on felony convictions by repealing specific sections of election law. It directly affects individuals with felony convictions who were previously barred from voting due to these disqualifications. The key mechanism is the deletion of language in voter registration rules that listed felony convictions as a reason for canceling registration. The bill makes it so that a felony conviction no longer automatically disqualifies someone from voting under state election law. This change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for felons, advancing criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and eliminating post-conviction voting barriers.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5108: Establishes the housing for an equitable reentry and opportunity (HERO) act

Establishes the housing for an equitable reentry and opportunity (HERO) act to prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of criminal legal system involvement; defines criminal legal system involvement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits housing discrimination based on criminal legal system involvement, directly reducing reentry barriers and advancing rehabilitation - core criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits housing discrimination based on criminal justice involvement, directly advancing tenant protections as defined in topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Probation & Parole Tenant Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7308: Prohibits the release of certain records of victims of police violence by a police agency, prosecutorial agency or other law enforcement agency

Prohibits the release of criminal history or any mental health history records by a police agency, prosecutorial agency or other law enforcement agency of individuals who were the subject of the use of force by a police or peace officer.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits release of victim records in police use-of-force cases, restricting transparency and accountability in law enforcement oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 1892: Expands who may visit local correctional facilities

Expands who may visit local correctional facilities to include persons and accompanying staff of the chief executive officer of a county, members of a county legislative body, mayor of the city of New York, New York city public advocate, New York city comptroller, and members of the New York city council.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands oversight access to correctional facilities via elected officials, enhancing transparency and accountability - a key criminal justice reform indicator.92% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1437: Enacts the "criminal forfeiture process act"; repealer

This bill replaces New York's existing criminal forfeiture process with a new "Criminal Forfeiture Process Act." It applies specifically to property seized in connection with certain felony drug offenses, prostitution, driving under the influence, or property seized during hot pursuit of a felony suspect. Key changes include requiring courts to hold prompt hearings after seizure, mandating notice to all known property owners (including "innocent owners" who didn't know their property was used in crime), and making forfeiture proceedings part of the criminal trial rather than a separate civil case. The law also clarifies that contraband or stolen property must be disposed of or returned per state law, and prohibits civil forfeiture.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces forfeiture process with safeguards: prompt hearings and notice to owners, protecting civil rights in criminal cases per bill's notice/mandate requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5251: Relates to the custody of defendants who are subject to electronic location monitoring

This bill clarifies the legal status of defendants under electronic location monitoring. It specifies that such defendants are not considered "confined" in custody or committed to the sheriff's custody for specific legal purposes. The law amends two sections of the criminal procedure code to exclude these individuals from custody definitions used in other statutes. This directly affects defendants on electronic monitoring instead of jail, changing how their status is treated in legal proceedings. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies electronic monitoring defendants aren't 'confined,' reducing unnecessary jail time and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to minimize incarceration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5390: Increases the offense classification for certain assault offenses regarding police officers and peace officers

This bill increases criminal penalties for assaulting police officers, peace officers, and other public safety workers including firefighters, EMTs, nurses, sanitation workers, and prosecutors. It upgrades second-degree assault on these officers to a class C felony, specifically including cases where someone releases or fails to control an animal to obstruct their duties. Assault causing serious injury becomes a class B felony, and aggravated assault with weapons is raised to a class A felony. The law applies to attacks intended to prevent these workers from performing essential public safety duties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assaulting officers, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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