Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5748: Adds a defendant's identifiable ties to the community, state, and/or county to judges' considerations of whether to fix a securing order

Adds a defendant's identifiable ties to the community, state, and/or county to judges' considerations of whether to fix a securing order, including residence, employment, enrollment with an educational institution, and immediate family.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds community ties (residence, family) to bail considerations, reducing pretrial detention - a key criminal justice reform aligned with reducing recidivism and protecting defendant rights.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 990: Classifies criminal possession of a firearm from a class E felony to a class D felony

S 990 reclassifies criminal possession of a firearm from a class E felony to a class D felony under New York's penal law. This change directly affects individuals convicted of possessing a firearm without proper registration, reducing the severity of the penalty for this offense. The bill amends Section 265.01-b of the penal law to update the felony classification, which would result in potentially lighter sentencing for such convictions. The key mechanism is the straightforward reclassification of the offense level, without altering the underlying conduct or registration requirements. This is a substantive policy change affecting sentencing for a specific criminal charge.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReclassifies firearm possession from E to D felony, reducing penalty severity aligning with criminal justice reform goals of less severe sentencing for non-violent offenses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7873: Ends involuntary servitude in correctional facilities in New York state

This bill prohibits involuntary servitude and forced labor in all New York state and local correctional facilities, directly affecting incarcerated individuals. It amends the Civil Rights Law to explicitly ban slavery, involuntary servitude, and forced labor for all people in New York - including those convicted of crimes - and adds a new Correction Law section prohibiting any labor compelled through force, threats, or adverse actions (like disciplinary measures). The law makes it illegal for facilities to require labor against an individual's will using coercion or fear of punishment. This represents a concrete legal change to end forced labor practices within New York's prison system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans forced labor in NY correctional facilities, explicitly protecting incarcerated individuals' civil rights under criminal justice reform95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly prohibits forced labor and involuntary servitude in correctional facilities, directly protecting incarcerated individuals from exploitation under labor rights framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Human Trafficking

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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 · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5298: Prohibits corrections employees from participating in degrading behavior towards incarcerated persons or fellow employees

Prohibits corrections employees from participating in degrading behavior towards incarcerated persons or fellow employees; establishes any individual who participates in such behavior shall be disciplined by the department and may have their employment terminated for cause.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits degrading behavior by corrections staff, aligning with civil rights protection and oversight enhancements in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits degrading behavior towards fellow employees, establishing workplace safety standards through disciplinary measures for staff conduct.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6642: Establishes the New York state commission to end mass incarceration and to prevent violence

Establishes the New York state commission to end mass incarceration and to prevent violence; provides such commission shall investigate, evaluate and make recommendations concerning how to reduce the New York prison population, incidences of violent crime in New York state, and other various topics related to the criminal justice system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes commission to reduce prison population and prevent violence, directly advancing criminal justice reform by targeting mass incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7299: Creates the crime of tampering with electronic monitoring equipment

S 7299 creates a new class E felony offense for tampering with electronic monitoring equipment, such as ankle monitors used as a condition of pretrial release. The bill defines this as intentionally damaging, altering, or interfering with such devices without legal authority, directly affecting individuals under court-ordered electronic monitoring. It amends multiple sections of the criminal procedure law to include "tampering with electronic monitoring equipment" as a qualifying offense that may prevent release on recognizance or require bail. This policy change specifically targets interference with monitoring devices used to track defendants' compliance with release conditions. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new class E felony for tampering with electronic monitoring, expanding criminalization of pretrial supervision violations without reform focus. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 328: Requires the prosecution to disclose to the defendant certain information relating to jailhouse informants; requires prosecutors to notify victims of the informant's crimes in certain circumstances

Requires the prosecution to disclose to defense counsel certain information relating to jailhouse informants; requires prosecutors to notify victims of the informant's crimes if the prosecutor has offered the informant a benefit in exchange for testimony or other cooperation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires disclosure of jailhouse informant info to defendants and victims, enhancing transparency and protecting defendant rights in criminal proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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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 · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7076: Increases certain penalties for certain crimes relating to criminal possession of a weapon or firearm and to the release of information pertaining to youthful and adolescent offenders; repealer

Increases certain penalties for certain crimes relating to criminal possession of a weapon or firearm; relates to the release of information to the public, schools or law enforcement pertaining to youthful and adolescent offenders; establishes the crime of criminal solicitation of a minor in a violent felony; repeals certain provisions relating to disclosure of law enforcement arrest or booking photographs of an individual.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for weapon crimes and creates new offenses (criminal solicitation of minors), directly expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing per 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Juvenile Justice

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