Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3653: Requires the disclosure of video footage related to the death of an incarcerated individual involving a correctional officer

Requires the disclosure of video footage related to the death of an incarcerated individual involving a correctional officer to the attorney general's office of special investigation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires video disclosure in inmate death cases involving officers, enhancing oversight and accountability in corrections, aligning with reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 4, 2026

A 1670: Prohibits the use of restraints on incarcerated individuals during labor, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant persons during a custodial interrogation

Prohibits the use of restraints on and the use of force against incarcerated individuals during labor and incarcerated individuals who have experienced different pregnancy outcomes, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant and post-pregnancy persons during a custodial interrogation; provides for certain exceptions for restraints to be used and in such case limits the use to wrist restraints.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits restraints on incarcerated individuals during labor and pregnant persons during interrogation, protecting vulnerable populations and advancing civil rights in corrections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2297: Modifies the effect of termination of criminal actions and proceedings against a minor

This bill automatically deletes certain arrest records for minors when their criminal case ends in their favor (e.g., dismissed or acquitted) and they have no prior arrests. It specifically requires the removal of photographs, fingerprints, palmprints, and arrest records from official files. The law applies only to minors defined as "juvenile offenders" under existing law, and only if they have no previous criminal history. This creates a clear, automatic process for clearing records to help young people avoid long-term consequences of a single minor offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically clears minor arrest records upon favorable case resolution, reducing long-term barriers and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to improve rehabilitation opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6500: Establishes merit time allowance credits and certain administrative privileges credits for local correctional facilities

S 6500 establishes a merit time allowance credit program for eligible individuals in local correctional facilities (those serving one year or less sentences or awaiting trial). Participants earn one 24-hour credit for every four days of successful involvement in approved educational, vocational, work, or rehabilitative programs. These credits directly reduce their sentence time and are transferable to state facilities if convicted of a felony. The program requires voluntary participation, prohibits using non-participation as evidence against individuals, and mandates facilities to maintain and transfer credit records.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates merit time credits for rehabilitation programs in correctional facilities, reducing sentences for participation. This promotes rehabilitation, reduces recidivism, and aligns with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7216: Relates to segregated confinement

This bill prohibits segregated confinement (solitary isolation) for three specific groups: juveniles under 21, individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities, and those with permanent physical disabilities that substantially limit major life activities (like walking or seeing). It also requires the commissioner to publish quarterly reports on segregated confinement use, including related self-harm incidents. Facility rules must now specify that any segregated confinement sanction must be the minimum necessary duration for maintaining order. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits solitary confinement for vulnerable populations in corrections, aligning with criminal justice reform and civil rights protections.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits solitary confinement for individuals with mental illness, protecting their mental health and requiring self-harm incident reporting.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 578: Relates to offenses for which a court may fix bail or commit a principal to custody of the sheriff

This bill (S 578) changes pretrial release rules for people accused of sex offenses who are already designated as sex offenders under New York's Correction Law. It allows courts to require bail or hold such individuals in custody before trial, rather than automatically releasing them on their own recognizance. Previously, courts could only deny release for these individuals if they also found other risks (like flight risk), but this bill makes their sex offender status alone sufficient justification for bail or custody. The law directly affects people awaiting trial for sex offenses who are on the state's sex offender registry. It takes effect 30 days after becoming law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts pretrial release for sex offenders by eliminating the need for additional risk factors, directly reducing defendant rights in criminal justice process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6164: Prohibits certain limitations of visitation of incarcerated individuals

This bill prohibits prisons and jails from unjustly restricting in-person visits for incarcerated people. It requires facilities to allow at least two in-person visits per week and bans coercion to skip visits, while still permitting video calls as an extra option (not a replacement). Exceptions are allowed for safety reasons like misconduct or emergencies, as determined by corrections officials. The law directly affects incarcerated individuals and their families by protecting their right to regular face-to-face contact.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects incarcerated individuals' visitation rights, requiring in-person visits and preventing coercion - directly advancing rehabilitation and family connections, key to criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5085: Modifies the factors to be considered when making a parole release decision

This bill modifies New York's parole decision process by updating the factors parole boards must consider. It requires boards to evaluate an incarcerated person's institutional record, release plans, victim input (including statements about post-sentencing threats), deportation status, sentence length, and prior criminal history. The bill replaces the term "inmate" with "incarcerated person" throughout the law and mandates toll-free victim access and written reports for victim statements. It takes effect immediately, focusing on concrete procedural changes to parole assessments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates parole factors to include rehabilitation considerations and victim input about post-sentencing threats, aligning with reform goals to reduce recidivism.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 58: Establishes the crime of making a terroristic threat against a police officer

S 58 creates a new criminal offense for making threats of violence against police officers, classifying it as a class C felony. The bill defines the crime as threatening to commit violence against an officer with the intent to intimidate civilians, influence government policy, or disrupt government operations. It explicitly states that lacking the intent or ability to carry out the threat is not a valid defense. This law directly affects individuals who make such threats, imposing felony penalties rather than lesser offenses. The bill aims to strengthen legal consequences for threats targeting law enforcement personnel.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new felony for threatening police, expanding criminalization. Directly increases penalties for speech without reform, aligning with 'oppose' indicators: expands criminalization and restricts defendant rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 404: Prohibits the use of reverse location and reverse keyword searches

Prohibits the search, with or without a warrant, of geolocation and keyword data of a group of people who are under no individual suspicion of having committed a crime, but rather are defined by having been at a given location at a given time or searched particular words, phrases, character strings, or websites.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits warrantless mass data collection, protecting civil liberties and enhancing police accountability in criminal investigations.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits warrantless bulk geolocation/keyword searches, directly protecting user privacy - a core technology policy indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy

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