Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1043: Enacts the "prison privilege limitation act"

Enacts the "prison privilege limitation act"; restricts prison privileges, including the wearing of civilian clothing, for certain incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts prison privileges like civilian clothing, directly limiting inmate rights per oppose indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4768: Includes solicitation or facilitation of certain crimes as a specified offense for the purposes of a hate crime

This bill expands New York's hate crime definition by adding "solicitation or facilitation" of specific violent offenses to the list of acts that qualify as hate crimes. It directly affects prosecutors, courts, and victims of crimes like assault, stalking, sexual abuse, kidnapping, and terrorism when motivated by bias. The key change modifies the penal law to include these actions - such as urging someone to commit a listed crime or helping plan it - as punishable hate crimes. This applies to the full range of offenses previously defined as "specified offenses," including violent and hate-motivated acts. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hate crime definition to include solicitation/facilitation, strengthening accountability for bias-motivated crimes and protecting victims per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5291: Ends the imposition of a sentence of life without parole or death; repealer

S 5291 eliminates the death penalty and life without parole as sentencing options for certain violent crimes, including murder. It replaces life without parole for murder in the first degree with a fixed prison term of 20 to 25 years, and changes sentences for murder in the second degree and aggravated murder to life imprisonment (which allows for parole eligibility after serving a portion of the sentence). The bill repeals specific provisions of the penal and correction laws that permitted these sentences and amends related sections to remove references to "life without parole" or the death penalty. This directly affects individuals convicted of serious violent offenses who would have faced these sentences under prior law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates death penalty and life without parole, replacing with fixed terms and parole-eligible sentences aligns with criminal justice reform goals like reducing harsh sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5163: Prohibits discrimination based on status as a person with a prior conviction

S 5163 amends New York's Executive Law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on "status as a person with a prior conviction" in employment, licensing, and training programs. The bill adds this protected category to existing anti-discrimination provisions, making it unlawful for employers, licensing agencies, employment agencies, or labor organizations to refuse hiring, discharge, or discriminate against individuals with prior convictions in compensation, terms, or conditions of employment. It also prohibits discriminatory statements, advertisements, or inquiries related to this status, except where justified by a bona fide occupational qualification. This policy change directly affects job seekers and workers with criminal records seeking employment opportunities across New York State.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits employment discrimination against people with prior convictions, advancing reentry and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds protected class for individuals with prior convictions, prohibiting employment discrimination and advancing workers' rights under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Employment Discrimination

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 725: Establishes that making a terroristic threat is a qualifying offense for bail

S 725 amends New York's criminal procedure law to include specific terrorism-related offenses as qualifying for strict bail considerations. The bill adds money laundering in support of terrorism (across all degrees) and felony crimes of terrorism (excluding one specific subsection) to the list of offenses where judges must consider bail restrictions. This means defendants charged with these designated terrorism crimes would face higher hurdles to securing pretrial release. The change directly affects individuals accused of these specific terrorism-related offenses in New York courts. The bill does not address "making a terroristic threat" as stated in the abstract, but rather targets defined terrorism financing and terrorism crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds terrorism offenses to strict bail restrictions, reducing pretrial release options. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators by limiting defendant rights in criminal justice process.95% confidence

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passed both · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 3864: Enacts the "criminal court opinion transparency act"

This bill requires New York courts to publish detailed criminal case data online in a machine-readable format. It mandates collecting and sharing defendant demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity), judge names, case issues, and publication status for every criminal case, with new data updated quarterly. The information must be accessible via a free public database allowing search and bulk download for analysis. This affects courts (which must transmit data) and the public (which gains access to previously unpublished case details). The law applies to all criminal cases, including those resolved in favor of the defendant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates public transparency of criminal court data including demographics and case details, enabling bias analysis and enhancing judicial accountability - key criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 4379: Requires the educational and vocational credits earned by incarcerated individuals are transferable upon release

Requires that curricula and educational programs provide incarcerated individuals the opportunity to earn educational or vocational credits which shall be transferable to an educational institution upon the release of the incarcerated individual.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables transferable educational credits for incarcerated individuals, directly supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - core criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for incarcerated individuals by mandating transferable credits, directly aligning with 'expands educational access' support indicator.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 303: 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 creates commission to end mass incarceration and reduce prison population, directly advancing criminal justice reform through systemic evaluation and recommendations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate May 12, 2026

S 1209: Eliminates mandatory minimum sentences; repealer

S 1209, the "Marvin Mayfield Act," eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for felony convictions by amending sentencing laws. It requires courts to issue written sentencing decisions explaining individualized findings, rather than applying fixed minimum terms. The bill also expands pre-sentence reports to include analysis of incarceration costs and increases access to these reports for defendants and their attorneys before sentencing. This directly affects individuals convicted of felonies in New York State, shifting sentencing focus toward rehabilitation and community safety over rigid minimum terms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEliminates mandatory minimums, requires individualized sentencing, and expands pre-sentence reports to promote fairer judicial outcomes and reduce unjust incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5793: Repeals provisions of the executive law relating to probation and prohibits certain fees relating thereto

Relates to probation administrative fees; prohibits certain fees associated with probation; provides for the termination and discharge of certain sentences.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits probation fees, reducing financial barriers for individuals under supervision and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to improve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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