Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1707: Creates the office of the correctional ombudsperson

Creates the office of the correctional ombudsperson to achieve transparency, fairness, impartiality and accountability in New York state correctional facilities; relates to reports by coroners; designates investigators of the office of the correctional ombudsperson as peace officers; authorizes the attorney general to investigate the alleged commission of any criminal offense committed by an employee of the department of corrections and community supervision in connection with their official duties; relates to the confidentiality of certain records; includes the office of the correctional ombudsperson records within the definition of public safety agency records; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates correctional ombudsman office to enhance transparency, accountability, and fairness in facilities, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5972: Relates to authorizing voting by incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities; repealer

Relates to authorizing voting by incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities; requires the department of corrections and community supervision, in collaboration with the state and county boards of election, to establish a program to facilitate incarcerated individuals voter registration and voting.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of rehabilitation and civil rights protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2448: Relates to the use of risk and needs principles in parole decisions

Requires the use of risk and needs assessments in parole decisions; provides a process permitting incarcerated individuals to correct verifiable factual mistakes or errors in their risk and needs assessments or other non-confidential documents given the board prior to their appearances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires risk/needs assessments in parole decisions with error correction, promoting fairer outcomes and reducing wrongful denials in corrections, aligning with reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5792: Relates to permitting a qualified incarcerated individual eligible for early release to receive a conditional release

Relates to permitting an incarcerated individual who has had a final order of deportation issued against such incarcerated individual, has not been convicted of an A-1 felony and who is eligible for early release to receive a conditional release.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables conditional release for eligible incarcerated individuals with deportation orders, promoting rehabilitation and reducing unnecessary incarceration per criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill allows conditional release for incarcerated individuals with final deportation orders, advancing their immediate situation within the state's legal system.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Detention Enforcement

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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 4890: Establishes the crime of harassment of an employee by an incarcerated individual

S 4890 creates a new crime for incarcerated individuals who harass facility employees. It specifically prohibits: (1) displaying or touching intimate body parts in view of an employee, (2) causing an employee to be visible while doing so, or (3) threatening to expose bodily fluids. This applies to employees at correctional facilities, parole offices, mental health facilities, probation departments, or police officers. The offense is classified as a class B misdemeanor, punishable by fines or up to 90 days in jail.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects correctional staff from harassment, enhancing facility safety and operational integrity within criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects correctional facility employees from harassment, strengthening workplace safety protections for specific workers in high-risk environments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing Probation & Parole Employment Discrimination

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6957: Provides judges with more discretion to impose bail on principals and requires certain principals be committed to the custody of the sheriff; repealer

Provides judges with more discretion to impose bail on principals charged with a felony, principals charged with a misdemeanor when awaiting trial for another crime, principals who are a threat to the safety and security of the community, principals charged with a felony serving a sentence of probation or while released to post release supervision; requires principals who have been charged with an offense related to three separate alleged instances of criminal activity are committed to the custody of the sheriff.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts bail options for certain defendants, requiring custody in multiple-offense cases, reducing pretrial release opportunities and defendant rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7972: Relates to allowing victim impact statements to be submitted at parole revocation hearings

Bill S 7972 allows victims of crimes to submit impact statements during parole revocation hearings for the individual who committed the crime. It amends current law to enable victims to provide written, audiotaped, or videotaped statements, or to meet personally with the presiding officer. Upon a victim's request, the department must inform them of the hearing details. If the presiding officer finds a parole violation, they must then inform the victim of their right to submit such a statement. This bill directly affects crime victims and individuals facing parole revocation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables victim impact statements at parole revocation hearings, enhancing victim participation in criminal justice process per reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 127: Relates to findings of the state board of parole necessary for discretionary release of incarcerated individuals on parole

This bill changes New York's parole process by requiring the state board of parole to consider specific factors before granting release. It mandates evaluation of rehabilitation efforts (like programs, therapy, and work assignments), release plans (including housing, jobs, and support services), and deportation status, while prohibiting decisions based mainly on victim statements or prior criminal records. Parole denials must include detailed written explanations, and the board must report quarterly to lawmakers with demographic data on denied cases (excluding individual identities). These changes aim to standardize parole decisions and increase transparency.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates parole board to prioritize rehabilitation, release planning, and deportation status over prior records/victim statements, reducing bias and advancing reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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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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