Criminal Justice

Relates to certain guilty pleas where the plea is in the interest of justice and which are entered into with both the permission of the court and the consent of the people.

Provides that if a defendant dies when they have a pending appeal, such appeal shall be dismissed and the trial court's judgment shall remain in effect.

S 8942 elevates assaults against water authority employees performing their duties to a felony offense. It directly affects workers employed by public benefit corporations (like water utilities) governed by Article 5 of New York’s Public Authorities Law. The bill adds a new provision (Subdivision 11-d) to the penal law, making it a felony to cause physical injury to these employees while they are supplying water to residents. This changes the legal penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony for this specific type of assault, without altering other existing protections for public safety or emergency personnel.

Requires the timely disclosure of video footage or audio recordings related to the death of incarcerated individuals involving correction officers or peace officers to the attorney general's office of special investigations (Part A); relates to establishing comprehensive camera coverage for covered facilities and covered vehicles; repeals certain provisions of the correction law relating to requiring institutions and local correctional facilities to adhere to certain standards regarding the camera coverage of incarcerated individuals and detainees, and access to such camera recordings (Part B); clarifies standards for next of kin notifications where an incarcerated individual dies in custody (Part C); relates to the time within which the state commission of correction shall issue a report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly of the findings of a study on deaths in state correctional facilities within the state of New York (Part D); provides access to microscopic slides upon request for certain autopsies (Part E); intentionally omitted (Part F); relates to data on substantiated, unfounded, and unsubstantiated allegations received by the office of special investigations required to be collected and reported by the commissioner of corrections and community supervision (Part G); relates to the state commission of correction; provides for the manner of confirmation of such members; relates to the effectiveness of such provisions (Part H); authorizes the correctional association to visit correctional facilities with twenty-four hours advance notice and grants the correctional association access to certain records and information of correctional facilities (Part I); provides that with respect to state action brought by anyone to recover damages for physical, psychological, or other injury or condition suffered while in state custody, the time in which such action must commence shall be extended to two years after such person is released from such custody (Part J).

Ensures repeat offenders qualify for bail and pre-trial detention when the principal has been convicted of one or more misdemeanor or felony offenses within the immediate preceding five years.

Requires the collection and reporting of sexual offense evidence on the statewide electronic tracking system within ten days of permission to release the evidence by the alleged sexual offense victim; relates to the effectiveness thereof.

Requires each county to establish a county law enforcement civilian complaint review board to assist the board of supervisors with the investigation of complaints concerning misconduct by members of county law enforcement towards members of the public in a complete, thorough and impartial manner.

Enhances know your customer requirements and responsible gaming procedures; relates to the opening and closing of an authorized sports bettor's account; prohibits an authorized sports bettor from allowing another person to access such bettor's account; allows a bettor who does so to be designated a prohibited bettor; provides for the disposition of revenues from violation fines.

This bill creates a public online registry for individuals convicted of a second or subsequent domestic violence offense against a domestic abuse victim. Courts must report these convictions to the state division within seven days, adding the offender's name, date of birth, conviction details, and photo (excluding address or identification numbers) to the registry. Offenders must pay a $150 registration fee, with $100 funding registry operations. The registry automatically removes information after two years for one prior conviction, five years for two prior convictions, or ten years for three or more prior convictions.

This bill removes criminal penalties for possessing buprenorphine (a medication used to treat opioid addiction) when used for medical purposes under specific circumstances. It directly affects individuals who currently face criminal charges for possessing this medication, particularly those using it in addiction treatment. The key change amends Public Health Law to clarify that possession for medical use by a practitioner or patient is no longer classified as a crime. The law remains focused on medical use during treatment for addiction, without creating new programs or funding.