Criminal Justice

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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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1013: Relates to prohibiting the use of chemical agents by police officers against minors

This bill prohibits police officers from using chemical agents - such as pepper spray, tear gas, or oleoresin capsicum - against any minor under 18 years old in all circumstances. It directly affects minors under 18 and requires all police departments to update their use-of-force policies to ban these chemical agents. The law amends existing policy rules to explicitly forbid such use, applying immediately upon enactment. This is a policy change to restrict specific police tactics targeting children, with no exemptions or exceptions specified.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans police use of chemical agents against minors, protecting civil rights and enhancing police accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 128: Requires notice to crime victims that they have the right to attend interviews between the board of parole and the incarcerated individual; requires the board of parole to review victim impact statements

Requires the notice to crime victims of case disposition to inform the victim of the right to attend interviews between the board of parole and the incarcerated individual in cases where the final disposition includes a felony defined in article one hundred twenty-five of the penal law that results in the commitment of the defendant to the custody of the department of corrections and community supervision for an indeterminate sentence; requires the board of parole to review victim impact statements, failure to review such statements shall make a hearing by the board of parole invalid.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates victim notification and review of impact statements in parole hearings, enhancing victim rights within criminal justice reform process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 895: Relates to the automatic expungement of records of arrest

S 895 requires courts to automatically expunge arrest records when an arrest is deemed "voidable" (meaning no charges were filed, the arrest lacked probable cause, or charges were dismissed). It mandates that courts issue expungement orders within 30 days of an arrest becoming voidable, and directs law enforcement agencies to destroy physical records like photos, fingerprints, and documents within the same timeframe. Individuals affected can answer employment questions as if the arrest never occurred, and courts must notify both the person and their attorney of the expungement. This applies to all arrests meeting the "voidable" criteria in New York, streamlining record clearance without requiring individual petitions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically expunges voidable arrest records, reducing barriers to employment and advancing criminal justice reform by clearing unjust records that hinder rehabilitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 608: Expands prison work release program eligibility and participation

This bill expands eligibility for New York's prison work release programs by extending the timeframe for parole eligibility from two to three years before release. It allows incarcerated individuals convicted of homicide or assault to qualify if they prove they were abused by the victim and the abuse contributed to the crime, requiring documentation like hospital records or police reports. The bill excludes those convicted of serious offenses like sex crimes, terrorism, or child sexual abuse from participating. It also requires the commissioner to consult prosecutors and courts before approving exceptions, while maintaining restrictions on those with escape convictions or certain violent histories. This directly affects incarcerated people in New York state facilities seeking work release opportunities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands prison work release eligibility to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like improved correctional programming.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Probation & Parole Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly May 28, 2026

A 4144: Prohibits state chartered banking institutions from investing in and providing financing for private prisons

This bill bans state-chartered banks from financing or investing in private prisons. It directly affects all state-chartered banking institutions by prohibiting them from providing loans, purchasing stocks, or funding any entity that operates a private correctional facility (a facility that would be illegal under existing state law if located in the state). The law applies to all new or modified contracts starting immediately upon enactment. This creates a clear policy change restricting financial support for private prison operations within the state's banking sector.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans state bank financing of private prisons, reducing for-profit correctional facilities - a key criminal justice reform focus to improve oversight and reduce recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5205: Establishes the crime of coordinated petit larceny, permits a principal to be eligible to be held on bail for coordinated petit larceny, and creates a public service campaign on larceny

Establishes the crime of coordinated petit larceny; permits a principal to be eligible to be held on bail for coordinated petit larceny; directs the division of criminal justice services to conduct a public awareness campaign on larceny.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new crime of coordinated petit larceny, expanding criminalization90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 3, 2026

A 2121: Relates to voting rights and access for incarcerated individuals

Relates to voting rights and access for incarcerated individuals; authorizes polling places to be available at correctional facilities and local facilities; requires such facilities to provide persons detained or confined in such facilities access to register to vote or apply for an absentee ballot; requires voting information to be included in the inmate handbook.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands voting access for incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to protect civil rights and aid reintegration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1658: Requires a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for murder in the first degree, aggravated murder, and murder in the second degree

This bill requires life imprisonment without parole for individuals convicted of murder in the first degree, aggravated murder, or specific types of murder in the second degree. It eliminates parole eligibility for these offenders, mandating they serve their entire sentence in prison with no possibility of release. The law applies to all such convictions under the defined legal standards, removing alternative sentencing options like fixed prison terms. Additionally, the bill includes similar life without parole requirements for certain terrorism and chemical weapon offenses, but the primary focus centers on murder sentencing reforms.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates life without parole for specified murders, eliminating parole eligibility and increasing mandatory sentences, directly opposing criminal justice reform by reducing defendant rights and harshening sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8182: Provides for access to legal counsel when a correctional facility has suspended visiting privileges

Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to establish procedures to allow an incarcerated individual in a correctional facility which has suspended visiting privileges to have private meetings with their legal counsel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures incarcerated individuals maintain access to legal counsel during facility visiting suspensions, protecting defendant rights and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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