Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 935: Authorizes bail for principals charged with certain driving while intoxicated offenses

This bill adds felony driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses under Vehicle and Traffic Law sections 1192 and 1193 to the list of charges where a court may authorize bail without cash conditions. It specifically affects defendants charged with felony DWI who were already out on bail, released under conditions, or awaiting arraignment for other serious offenses (like property harm or firearm charges). Courts may release these defendants without cash bail if prosecutors show reasonable cause the defendant committed the current DWI offense, and if the court determines any property harm involved was negligible and unrelated to other criminal activity. The bill does not change existing bail rules for other offenses but expands the scope to include felony DWI cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables non-cash bail for felony DWI defendants, reducing pretrial detention and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to limit cash bail's disproportionate impact on low-income defendants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5565: Relates to the execution of a warrant of arrest and establishes educational programs for judicial personnel on the law of searches, arrests and seizures

Relates to the execution of a warrant of arrest; authorizes the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services to establish a system to record and monitor the issuance and execution of search warrants; authorizes the chief administrator of the court system to establish educational programs for judicial personnel on the law of searches, arrests and seizures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes warrant monitoring system and judicial education on legal procedures, enhancing accountability and adherence to civil rights standards in arrests/seizures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4491: Relates to comparing fingerprints of a defendant against the statewide database

This bill allows courts to order fingerprint comparisons against statewide and national databases for defendants in criminal cases. It requires courts to determine first that the fingerprints meet federal or state standards, and second that a different outcome was likely if the comparison had been done earlier (e.g., a more favorable verdict or no conviction). The law directly affects defendants seeking to challenge prior convictions based on new fingerprint evidence. It creates a specific legal pathway for courts to review such evidence without changing how fingerprints are collected during investigations. The bill focuses on post-conviction relief, not new investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows defendants to challenge prior convictions using new fingerprint evidence, promoting correction of wrongful convictions and protecting defendant rights - key criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5492: Relates to establishing a judicial diversion program for young defendants

This bill establishes a judicial diversion program for defendants under 24 charged with non-violent felonies or misdemeanors, allowing them to avoid a criminal conviction by completing a 16-month job training program. Eligibility excludes those with prior violent felony convictions, persistent offender status, or pending violent charges, though prosecutors may later permit participation. Participants must complete job training (including job opportunities and wages), attend court check-ins, and avoid criminal activity during the program. Upon successful completion, the court can dismiss the original charges or allow the defendant to withdraw a guilty plea and enter a misdemeanor plea with probation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes judicial diversion for non-violent young defendants via job training, reducing convictions and promoting rehabilitation - core criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1405: Relates to establishing gang courts pilot program

This bill establishes a five-year pilot program for specialized "gang courts" in Orange, Nassau, and Suffolk counties, starting January 1, 2026, and ending January 1, 2031. The courts will handle criminal cases involving groups of three or more people actively engaged in criminal conduct, as defined by the bill. Funding must come from a mix of federal grants (from the U.S. Department of Justice) and state/local resources, with the chief administrator of the courts overseeing setup and procedures. Cases will be transferred to these specialized courts from regular county courts for gang-related offenses, operating under rules set by the chief administrator.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates specialized gang courts pilot program with DOJ funding to address group criminal cases through structured court procedures, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 505: Relates to concealment and/or mutilation of a human corpse

This bill makes it a class E felony to intentionally hide, alter, damage, or destroy a human body or body part with the purpose of preventing it from being used as evidence in legal proceedings (e.g., court cases, autopsies, or criminal investigations). It specifically excludes funeral directors, embalmers, and organ donation activities under existing public health law from this prohibition. The law also adds this offense to criteria affecting bail decisions in criminal cases, but its core focus is defining the crime itself. The policy change directly affects individuals who might tamper with remains to obstruct justice, while protecting standard funeral and medical practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by making concealment of evidence (human body) a felony, aiding investigations and court proceedings while excluding legitimate activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1402: Relates to the execution of a warrant of arrest and establishes educational programs for judicial personnel on the law of searches, arrests and seizures

Relates to the execution of a warrant of arrest; authorizes the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services to establish a system to record and monitor the issuance and execution of search warrants; authorizes the chief administrator of the court system to establish educational programs for judicial personnel on the law of searches, arrests and seizures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes warrant monitoring system and judicial training on searches/arrests, enhancing accountability and legal compliance in criminal justice procedures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7776: Establishes conviction integrity units

Establishes conviction integrity units; describes conviction integrity units; creates definitions; provides that a prosecution agency may create a conviction integrity unit to review convictions; provides that a conviction integrity unit may make recommendations for changes in convictions and sentences obtained by the prosecution agency; grants the prosecution agency discretion regarding the conviction integrity unit's recommendations; requires notice to the victim if a petition is filed by the prosecution agency; gives the superior court the discretion to provide relief.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes conviction integrity units to review and correct wrongful convictions, advancing criminal justice reform through enhanced accuracy and accountability in sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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failed · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 2282: Enacts the "pretrial risk overview for threat evaluation, custody, and treatment (PROTECT) Act"; repealer

Enacts the "pretrial risk overview for threat evaluation, custody, and treatment (PROTECT) Act" to evaluate certain defendants; establishes a risk assessment instrument to aid judges in determining whether to release or detain a principal, where and when a release is appropriate and necessary conditions that should be imposed as part of such release; repeals provisions of law relating to qualifying offenses and allows a court to set bail or remand a principal where based on the risk assessment instrument, where the principal poses a safety risk or risk of flight; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes risk assessment tool for pretrial release decisions, aiming to reduce unnecessary detention and promote fairer judicial outcomes per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1471: Authorizes certain electronic court appearances

Authorizes electronic court appearances for criminal matters, excluding jury trials, in all counties in the state; authorizes electronic appearances for criminal matters where the court determines a personal appearance would be impractical, unsafe or excessively burdensome; authorizes sentencing to a period of incarceration to be conducted via electronic appearance for defendants who are already incarcerated.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes electronic court appearances for criminal matters, improving efficiency and accessibility in court proceedings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

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