Criminal Justice (Policing)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2667: Establishes an independent inspector general in each county for police oversight purposes

Bill A 2667 establishes an independent inspector general in every county to oversee police departments and investigate misconduct allegations. Each county legislative body must appoint this official, who will investigate police operations, review policies, and make recommendations to improve effectiveness, public safety, and civil rights protection. The inspector general must report annual findings to the county legislature and district attorney. This law directly affects all county police departments by creating a new, independent oversight role focused on accountability and transparency.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates independent police oversight to investigate misconduct and protect civil rights, directly advancing accountability reforms in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3897: Requires the New York State Office of Mental Health to study the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of African Americans

Requires the New York State Office of Mental Health to study the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of African Americans in New York state and to deliver a finding of the results of such study to the governor and the legislative leaders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates study on police violence's mental health impact on Black communities, supporting accountability and reform efforts in criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health study on police violence impacts, directly advancing mental health services research and policy development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 11, 2025

A 7446: Authorizes the county of Rockland to impose an additional rate of sales and compensating use taxes

This bill authorizes Rockland County to add two separate sales and use tax rates through 2027. It allows a 0.625% (five-eighths of one percent) tax from March 2022 to November 2027, and an additional 0.375% (three-eighths of one percent) tax starting March 2027. The revenue from these taxes must be distributed to towns and villages: 20% based on population during the first period, and 16.67% to 33.33% based on police department staffing during the second period. The funds cannot be used for salaries of police officers or other existing wage agreements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes additional sales tax rates (0.625% + 0.375%) to fund local government services, increasing tax revenue allocation for towns/villages.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDirectly allocates tax revenue based on police staffing, funding law enforcement as a core component of criminal justice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2461: Prohibits the use of cell-site simulators by law enforcement officers

This New York bill prohibits law enforcement officers and agencies from using cell-site simulators - devices that mimic cell towers to track phones without consent. It directly affects law enforcement (including police officers and agencies) and individuals whose phone data might be collected through these devices. Key provisions ban the use, acquisition, or third-party agreements involving such technology, require illegally obtained evidence to be suppressed in court, and allow affected individuals to sue for up to $5,000 per violation or actual damages. The law also permits class-action lawsuits and awards legal fees to successful plaintiffs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits warrantless law enforcement surveillance via cell-site simulators, protecting individual privacy rights and aligning with criminal justice reform principles by limiting overreach.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBans cell-site simulators used for unauthorized phone tracking, directly strengthening data privacy protections under technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2103: Relates to aggravated harassment of a police officer

Establishes the crime of aggravated harassment of a police officer where a person causes such police officer to come into contact with blood, seminal fluid, urine, feces, or the contents of a toilet bowl, by throwing, tossing or expelling such fluid or material.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense (aggravated harassment of police) by expanding criminalization to include bodily fluid contact, increasing penalties and aligning with 'expands criminalization' (oppose indicator).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4285: Increase the types of firearms that are to be included in the firearm ballistic identification database

This bill requires firearm manufacturers shipping weapons into New York to include a sealed container with each firearm containing a shell casing discharged from that weapon. It also mandates gunsmiths and dealers to submit these casings to the state police within 10 days if manufacturers fail to comply, or obtain them through a state-operated program. The state police will maintain an automated database storing ballistic information to help match shell casings to specific firearms during investigations. This expands the current database to cover all firearms defined in the penal law, including rifles and assault weapons, directly affecting manufacturers, dealers, and law enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates ballistic database for law enforcement to match casings to firearms, enhancing crime-solving capabilities in criminal justice investigations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 501: Relates to reports by the office of special investigation

Requires the office of special investigation to conclude investigations into alleged criminal offenses committed by police officers resulting in a death and issue a report within sixty days.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires timely reports on officer-involved deaths, enhancing police accountability per criminal justice reform indicators92% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3334: Relates to assault on a member of an auxiliary police program

This bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include "on-duty auxiliary police officers" within the legal definition of assault in the second degree. It directly affects auxiliary police officers by ensuring that injuring them while they're performing duties is treated as assault in the second degree, aligning their protection with that of regular police officers and other first responders. The key change is adding auxiliary officers to the list of protected personnel in the statute, without creating new penalties or altering existing legal standards for assault.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly expands legal protection for auxiliary police officers under assault statutes, aligning their status with regular officers to strengthen law enforcement safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 11, 2025

A 6055: Provides for certain victim statements to be taken at their workplace instead of the police department

Provides for certain victim statements to be taken at their workplace instead of the police department where such workplace was the scene of the crime and is a hospital, emergency medical facility, nursing home or residential health care facility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces victim trauma by allowing statements at workplace, supporting victim-centered justice reform principles75% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3118: Prohibits the handcuffing or forcible restraint of certain juveniles in certain circumstances; limits warrantless arrests of juveniles except where the arrest is necessary for public safety

Prohibits handcuffing or forcibly restraining children age twelve and under unless such child presents a danger to such child, the officer or others; limits warrantless arrests of persons under age eighteen except where the arrest is necessary for public safety; establishes a twenty-four hour hotline for police officers to consult with youth social services personnel and attorneys regarding interactions with children and adolescents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits unnecessary juvenile restraint and limits warrantless arrests, directly advancing criminal justice reform by protecting youth rights and reducing excessive force.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing

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