Criminal Justice (Courts)

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 This affects courts (which must transmit data) and the public (which gains access to previously unpublished case details).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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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 857: Restores judicial discretion relating to bail reform; repealer

Restores judicial discretion relating to bail reform; provides that when the defendant is charged with a felony, the court shall request of the applicable county pre-trial services agency a risk and needs assessment be conducted on the eligible defendant for the purpose of determining whether such defendant should be released on the defendant's own recognizance, released under non-monetary conditions or, where authorized, bail or commit the defendant to the custody of the sheriff; defines risks and needs assessment; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores judicial discretion in bail decisions, requiring risk assessments to reduce cash bail reliance, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1537: Prohibits the use of DNA phenotyping in criminal prosecutions and proceedings

This bill prohibits law enforcement agencies from using or contracting for DNA phenotyping, which predicts physical traits (like eye color or ancestry) from DNA samples, in criminal investigations or prosecutions. It bans all evidence derived from this technology from being used as reasonable cause for arrest or in court, and requires existing DNA phenotyping data held by police to be destroyed immediately. Any conviction linked to such evidence becomes eligible for legal review. The law directly affects police departments, prosecutors, and criminal court proceedings by eliminating a specific investigative tool.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans DNA phenotyping evidence in criminal cases, restricting potentially biased investigative tools to protect civil rights and due process, aligning with reform goals.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill prohibits DNA phenotyping (a technology processing genetic data for trait prediction) in criminal cases, banning its use and requiring data destruction to protect privacy. This restricts a specific technology's application in law enforcement,...90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1402: Relates to providing a civil action for deprivation of rights

This bill creates a new civil lawsuit pathway for individuals whose constitutional or federal rights were violated by government actors (such as police, courts, or public officials). It allows victims to sue for damages and court-ordered remedies, removes common defenses like "I thought it was legal," and requires courts to award attorney fees to winning plaintiffs - even if the case settles without a formal judgment. Public entities (like cities or state agencies) must cover their employees' legal costs if sued under this law, and lawsuits must be filed within three years of the violation. It directly affects people harmed by government overreach, ensuring they have a clear legal route to seek redress for rights violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates civil suit for rights violations by police/courts, removes defenses like 'I thought it was legal,' mandates attorney fees - enhances accountability and protects civil rights in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7064: Includes offenses involving physical harm or danger to others to be qualifying offenses for the purpose of allowing a principal to be eligible to be held on bail

Includes offenses involving situations where a person physically harms another or engages in conduct that results in an unacceptable level of danger as qualifying offenses for the purpose of allowing a principal to be eligible to be held on bail; requires the Office of Court Administration, in conjunction with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, to manage an electronic tracking system maintaining a record of all bail decisions and to deliver a report to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands bail eligibility for violent offenses with oversight tracking, reducing pretrial detention - aligns with reform goals of defendant rights and transparency.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7337: Enacts into law components of legislation relating to certain criminal justice reform in the state of New York; repealer

Enacts into law components of legislation relating to certain criminal justice reform in the state of New York; establishes law enforcement officer grant funds (Part A); provides judges more discretion regarding securing orders and limiting the lengths of certain orders (Part B); requires affirmative consent for the disclosure of contact information of witnesses to a defendant; provides that denial of such consent shall only be for good cause as determined by the court (Part C); relates to consideration of the death penalty for the commission of certain provisions of murder in the first degree (Part D).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnacts criminal justice reform components including judicial discretion, witness privacy protections, and law enforcement grants, aligning with reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 4547: Relates to judicial diversion programs; repealer

S 4547 establishes a dedicated "diversion part" in every county court to handle judicial diversion cases for eligible defendants. It directly affects individuals charged with specific class B, C, D, or E felonies (excluding certain serious offenses like class A felonies) who have a qualifying mental health or substance use diagnosis. The bill requires a clinical evaluation by licensed professionals to determine if diversion is appropriate, including recommendations for evidence-based treatment (like counseling or medication) instead of incarceration. It repeals outdated provisions about alcohol/substance use evaluations and clarifies eligibility criteria for this program.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates judicial diversion programs requiring clinical evaluations and evidence-based treatment for eligible defendants, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration for mental health/substance use cases.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates clinical evaluations and evidence-based treatment referrals for mental health/substance use cases in judicial diversion, directly advancing access to mental health services through the court system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4765: Relates to the timely scheduling of criminal trials

This bill sets specific time limits for scheduling criminal trials based on the severity of charges. For felony cases, trials must begin within six months; for serious misdemeanors (over 3 months jail), within 90 days; for minor misdemeanors (under 3 months), within 60 days; and for violations, within 30 days. If trials aren't scheduled by these deadlines, defendants must be released on bail or their own recognizance, with certain delays (like court proceedings or defendant absence) excluded from the count. It directly affects defendants awaiting trial and requires prosecutors to meet these timelines.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSets trial deadlines to prevent prolonged pretrial detention, protecting defendant rights and reducing jail overcrowding - core criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3132: Increases the designation of certain offenses relating to unlawfully fleeing a police officer and makes such offenses eligible for bail

This bill lowers the felony classification for certain vehicle-related police fleeing offenses (from class A to E, E to D, and D to C felonies) and adds these charges to the list of offenses eligible for bail. It directly affects individuals charged with fleeing police in a motor vehicle, specifically those facing third-degree (least severe), second-degree, or first-degree charges. The key change amends bail eligibility rules in the criminal procedure law, allowing courts to grant release on recognizance or under non-monetary conditions for these offenses - provided the prosecution shows reasonable cause and the court finds any related theft negligible. This adjustment modifies how courts handle pretrial release for these specific charges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeLowers felony classifications for fleeing police offenses and enables bail eligibility, reducing pretrial detention and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of less punitive sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 430: Establishes the office of pretrial services

Moves from the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) responsibility for certifying, establishing and implementing standards for pretrial services agencies of the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeTransfers pretrial services oversight to DCJS for standardized implementation, enhancing criminal justice system oversight and reform efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole

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