Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 6, 2026

A 10474: Relates to confidential informants

Relates to confidential informants; defines terms; requires the law enforcement agencies which use confidential informants to establish policies and procedures to assess the suitability of using a person as a confidential informant; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes policies for assessing confidential informants, enhancing law enforcement accountability and protecting civil rights through better oversight procedures.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 11, 2026

S 9427: Relates to threats or harm to animals as a means of coercion or coercive control

This bill expands the legal definition of coercive control in domestic violence cases to include threats or harm to animals as a tactic used to intimidate or manipulate victims. It directly affects law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges who handle domestic violence and family court cases by providing clearer guidance on how animal-related threats factor into coercion claims. The legislation requires state-funded training for mental health professionals and social workers on recognizing animal abuse as part of coercive control patterns in domestic violence situations. This training must be updated every two years and cover relevant laws, psychological definitions, and the specific tactics abusers use involving animals to control their partners. The changes take effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by expanding coercive control definitions to include animal harm, improving victim protection and law enforcement guidance in domestic violence cases.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 6, 2026

A 10487: Relates to providing body-worn cameras to certain individuals visiting correctional facilities

Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to provide body-worn cameras to certain individuals visiting correctional facilities and provide those individuals with the footage from such cameras.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances accountability in correctional facilities by requiring body-worn cameras and footage access, protecting civil rights and improving transparency in criminal justice operations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 13, 2026

A 10626: Establishes a New York state prison labor board; repealer

Establishes a New York state prison labor board to ensure that all labor programs comply with the requirements of the labor law and are for the purpose of promoting successful rehabilitation, reentry and reintegration into the community and not for the purpose of earnings or cost-savings which inure to the benefit the state or any private individual or corporation; prohibits the department of corrections and community supervision from unfairly attaching, garnishing or disbursing the funds of incarcerated individuals where such individuals have not requested disbursement; requires that all interest accumulated on incarcerated individuals' funds be credited to such individual's accounts; eliminates the preferred status of the department of corrections and community supervision regarding commodities and services furnished by the correctional industries program; repeals certain provisions of the state finance law relating to such preferred status.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes prison labor board to ensure rehabilitation-focused programs, not profit-driven, aligning with criminal justice reform and reintegration goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 13, 2026

A 10563: Enacts the "vehicular violence accountability act"

This bill creates the Vehicular Violence Accountability Act to add new criminal offenses for serious physical injury, aggravated serious physical injury, death, and aggravated death caused by a vehicle. It directly affects drivers by requiring them to pass a written test and complete a four-to-five-hour pre-licensing course that includes education on vehicular violence and other safety topics before obtaining a driver's license. The law establishes a new article in the penal law to define vehicular violence and sets specific curriculum requirements for driver training programs. The commissioner of transportation will oversee the implementation of these educational components and may consult with other agencies when developing the course materials.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offenses for vehicular violence and mandates driver education, strengthening criminal justice accountability and public safety.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by requiring pre-licensing education and establishing new criminal offenses for vehicular violence, directly improving road safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 30, 2026

S 9618: Relates to cemetery desecration; repealer

Removes the $250 amount of damage from cemetery desecration in the second degree; makes cemetery desecration in the second degree a class E felony to apply to any damage or theft regardless of value; adds crime of cemetery desecration in the first degree and makes such crime a class D felony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens penalties for cemetery desecration by increasing felony classification and removing damage thresholds, enhancing criminal justice enforcement.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate May 27, 2026

S 9610: Requires that county clerks and sheriffs in the city of New York be elected

This bill proposes changing how county clerks and sheriffs are selected in New York City, requiring them to be elected by voters instead of appointed by the courts. The key provision would amend the state constitution to mandate that these officials be chosen by electors every three to four years, while also granting the clerk additional powers to manage jury selection. The bill includes a process for the governor to remove elected officials after providing notice and a hearing, and it would require public publication of the amendment before the next election. This change would directly affect New York City residents by giving them a direct vote in selecting these local officials.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances democratic accountability in criminal justice by requiring election of sheriffs and county clerks, improving oversight of law enforcement and jury selection processes.75% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 20, 2026

A 10687: Enacts the consumer camera privacy act

Prohibits manufacturers or operators of networked camera devices to enable coordinated surveillance features on such devices as a default feature without first obtaining affirmative opt-in consent from the owner; requires disclosure of data rights for owners of such devices; prohibits coordinated surveillance features to be disclosed to law enforcement without a warrant; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects civil rights by limiting warrantless surveillance and requiring opt-in consent, enhancing privacy protections against law enforcement overreach.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects consumer privacy by restricting default surveillance features and requiring consent, aligning with data privacy protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy Tags Privacy

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 20, 2026

S 9530: Enacts the crash victims bill of rights

Enacts the "crash victims bill of rights"; requires accident reports to be delivered to victims of accidents or their next of kin; requires victim impact statements to be delivered at traffic infraction hearings by injured parties or their next of kin; requires employers to grant leave of absence to employees delivering a victim impact statement at a traffic infraction hearing; directs the superintendent of financial services to conduct a study and complete a report on certain automobile crash information.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances victim rights in traffic cases by requiring impact statements and employer leave, strengthening victim participation in criminal justice processes.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill requires employers to grant leave for employees delivering victim impact statements, expanding worker benefits and protecting employee rights.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by improving victim rights and requiring victim impact statements at traffic hearings, strengthening accountability in crash cases.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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failed · New York · Assembly May 19, 2026

A 10430: Relates to certain conduct that may place a person in segregated confinement

Relates to certain conduct that may place a person in segregated confinement; expands the criteria that can be used for calculating good behavior allowances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands good behavior allowances, which supports rehabilitation and incentivizes positive conduct in confinement settings, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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