Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5897: Creates the crime of falsely accusing someone of a crime

This bill creates a new crime for knowingly submitting a false written accusation of a crime to law enforcement. It directly affects individuals who sign and submit false police reports or similar documents, knowing the accusation is untrue. The law makes this a class E felony, punishable by up to four years in prison. The bill specifically targets false criminal accusations made to police or prosecutors, not general false statements.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new class E felony for false police reports, expanding criminalization of accusations to law enforcement90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 332: Relates to conferring youthful offender status upon conviction of an eligible youth for a misdemeanor

This bill (S 332) changes how courts handle misdemeanor convictions for eligible young people. It requires courts to automatically classify as "youthful offenders" any youth convicted of a misdemeanor with no prior criminal record or youthful offender status. This classification prevents a permanent criminal record and blocks prison sentences longer than four years. The law applies to misdemeanor cases occurring after its effective date, with courts also having discretion to grant youthful offender status in other eligible cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill automatically grants youthful offender status for eligible youth, preventing permanent records and limiting prison sentences, reducing recidivism and supporting reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7099: Enacts the "Michael K. Williams law" to establish a grant program to incentivize counties and municipalities to reduce prison populations

Enacts the "Michael K. Williams law" to establish a grant program to incentivize counties and municipalities to reduce prison populations; makes an appropriation therefor.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for a grant program to reduce prison populations, directly funding a public safety initiative through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates grant program to incentivize reducing prison populations, a direct criminal justice reform measure focused on reducing incarceration rates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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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 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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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 5123: Provides an incarcerated individual time for mental health services

Provides that, to the extent practicable, any incarcerated individual who is receiving mental health services or participating in a mental health program shall not have the time spent participating in such mental health services or programs deducted from any other activity time such incarcerated individual receives.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures mental health program time isn't deducted from other activities, supporting rehabilitation in corrections as part of criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures incarcerated individuals retain activity time while receiving mental health services, directly supporting access to mental health care without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 886: Relates to establishing minimum rules for the treatment of incarcerated individuals

Relates to establishing minimum rules for the treatment of incarcerated individuals; provides that the United Nations standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners, also known as the Nelson Mandela rules, are hereby incorporated by reference.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncorporates Nelson Mandela Rules (UN standards) promoting humane prison conditions, rehabilitation, and prisoner rights - aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking

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