Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Assembly Apr 24, 2026

A 9551: Relates to coercive control

Relates to coercive control; provides that the family court and the criminal courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction over acts which constitute coercive control; provides that courts may issue orders of protection upon a finding of coercive control; directs the office of court administration, in consultation with the office for the prevention of domestic violence and certain organizations, to develop and administer training for judges and court clerks on coercive control.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands court jurisdiction for coercive control (domestic violence), mandates protective orders, and requires judicial training - strengthening victim protections within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 30, 2026

A 10072: Relates to race-blind charging guidelines for prosecution agencies

Requires the department of criminal justice services to develop, issue, and publish "race-blind charging" guidelines for a process whereby all prosecution agencies that prosecute criminal violations of the law as felonies or misdemeanors, shall implement a process by which an initial review of a case for potential charging is performed based on information, including police reports and criminal histories from the department of justice, from which direct means of identifying the race of the suspect, victim, or witness have been removed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates race-blind charging guidelines to eliminate racial bias in prosecution, directly advancing criminal justice reform and protecting civil rights through equitable charging practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8713: Relates to certain crimes of interference with health care services or religious worship

Relates to the definition of "reproductive health services" for purposes of the offense of criminal interference with health care services or religious worship in the second degree; defines "legally protected health activity"; increases the penalties for the criminal interference with health care services or religious worship in the first and second degrees, and for aggravated interference with health care services in the second degree.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for interference with health care/services, making sentencing more severe. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators (increases penalties) and opposes criminal justice reform efforts.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases penalties for interfering with healthcare services, protecting access to care through criminal law enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 8876: Establishes the persistent domestic violence offender registry

Establishes the persistent domestic violence offender registry to provide information on the persistent domestic violence offender, including but not limited to, the name, date of birth, conviction date, county or counties of convictions, and a current photograph of any person who was convicted of an offense against a victim of domestic violence and has at least one prior conviction for a family offense committed against a member of the same family as defined in subdivision one of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates registry to track repeat domestic violence offenders, aiming to prevent recidivism and enhance public safety within criminal justice framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 14, 2026

A 9550: Relates to assault in the second degree of an operator or crew of a passenger commuter ferry

This bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include operators and crew of passenger commuter ferries as protected individuals under assault in the second degree. It expands the existing definition to specify that intentionally causing physical injury to these ferry workers during their duties constitutes a more serious offense. The law directly affects ferry operators, crew members, and other transit workers (like train operators, bus drivers, station cleaners, and sanitation staff) who perform assigned duties on transportation systems. The key change is adding ferry personnel to the list of protected workers, making assault against them a specific criminal violation under the law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands assault law to protect ferry workers, making assaults a more serious offense, thus strengthening legal protection for transit workers under criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands legal protections for ferry workers against assault, strengthening workplace safety by classifying such acts as second-degree assault.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationProtects ferry workers from assault, enhancing safety for public transit personnel, aligning with transportation safety support90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Public Transit

Track

signed · New York · Assembly Feb 13, 2026

A 9491: Relates to cases terminated due to mental disease or defect and to establishing reporting obligations regarding such cases

This bill (A 9491) requires courts and mental health institutions to coordinate discharge planning for defendants in criminal cases terminated due to mental disease or defect. It mandates that courts order referrals to community services (when clinically appropriate and with consent) and dismiss charges upon termination, while institutions must track referrals and submit de-identified annual reports to state officials. The mental hygiene law office must publish annual public data on defendant outcomes, including admission rates, discharge planning, and referral patterns. The bill directly affects defendants in such cases, courts, mental health facilities, and state agencies, without altering eligibility for services or requiring referrals where consent is absent.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates community referrals for mental health cases, reduces recidivism by improving rehabilitation, and aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates coordination between courts/institutions for mental health discharge planning and community referrals, strengthening continuity of care for mental health patients.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 3, 2026

S 8950: Establishes a state board of parole

This bill creates a new state board of parole to decide which incarcerated individuals may be released on parole and set conditions for their release. The board will have 17 members: one statewide-elected commissioner (like a governor), 11 district-elected members, and five appointed members (including one by the governor and one by each legislative leader). It directly affects incarcerated people by establishing a formal process for parole decisions, replacing current procedures with this constitutionally created board. The bill specifies the board's structure and appointment rules but does not detail parole eligibility standards or release criteria.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates formal parole board to replace current procedures, establishing structured release decisions for incarcerated individuals - aligns with criminal justice reform goals of consistent, transparent parole processes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 21, 2026

A 9685: Relates to supporting depositions that are served at the time of issuance of a simplified information

This bill (A 9685) requires police officers or public servants to provide a written deposition detailing the factual basis for an arrest to defendants charged with minor offenses under "simplified information" (a streamlined charging process for less serious crimes). If a defendant makes a timely written request before pleading guilty or before trial begins (within 30 days of court appearance date), the court must order the officer to serve this deposition to the defendant or their attorney within 30 days or 5 days before trial, whichever comes first. It also clarifies that requests remain timely if the court appearance notice is defective, extending the deadline to 30 days after a not-guilty plea is entered or after notice of the right to a deposition is provided. This directly affects defendants in minor criminal cases by giving them earlier access to the officer's factual justification for the charges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires police to provide factual basis for arrest in minor cases, enhancing transparency and accountability in criminal proceedings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

Track

signed · New York · Senate Feb 13, 2026

S 8762: Relates to the removal of actions to certain courts in an adjoining county

Allows the removal of criminal actions to a mental health court in an adjoining county and provides for the reversion to the original court of record where the defendant fails to comply with or complete the mental health court program.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates mental health court diversion for eligible defendants, promoting rehabilitation over traditional sentencing and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 28, 2026

S 8813: Relates to cases terminated due to mental disease or defect and to establishing reporting obligations regarding such cases

This bill updates New York's legal process for cases where criminal charges are terminated due to a defendant's mental disease or defect. It requires courts to dismiss all criminal charges and arrange for discharge planning (including referrals to outpatient services when clinically appropriate) when a defendant is committed under a final order of observation. Institutions like hospitals must track and report on these referrals through biennial submissions, while the state must publish annual data online about case numbers, originating counties, inpatient care details, and referral outcomes. These changes aim to standardize post-termination care coordination and transparency without altering criminal liability for the defendant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires outpatient referrals for mental health cases, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform by reducing unnecessary incarceration.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates referrals to outpatient mental health services when clinically appropriate and requires tracking/reporting of these referrals, improving access to mental healthcare for defendants with mental health conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track