Criminal Justice (Policing)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5241: Includes peace officers in certain offenses against public safety

This bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include "peace officers" (such as sheriffs, campus police, or other designated officers) in existing laws about fleeing police in a vehicle. It creates three levels of offenses: a class A misdemeanor for fleeing at excessive speeds (third degree), a class E felony if serious injury occurs (second degree), and a class D felony if death results (first degree). The law directly affects drivers who flee from peace officers and officers who may face enhanced penalties when fleeing occurs. It also updates vehicle law to clarify that peace officer vehicles qualify as authorized emergency vehicles. The changes take effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating stricter penalties (felonies for death/injury) when fleeing peace officers, increasing mandatory sentencing without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4817: Establishes the crime of making a terroristic threat against a police officer

This bill creates a new criminal offense for threatening to commit violence against police officers with specific intent. It makes it a class C felony to threaten a police officer with the goal of intimidating civilians, influencing government policy, or affecting government conduct through violence. The law applies to anyone who makes such threats, regardless of whether they could actually carry out the threat. This directly affects individuals who make terroristic threats targeting law enforcement officers. The penalty for violating this law is a serious criminal charge, punishable as a class C felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new class C felony for threatening police, expanding criminalization of speech targeting officers, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of increased penalties.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 112: Establishes the crime of doxing a police officer, peace officer, or state officer

Establishes the crime of doxing a police officer, peace officer, or state officer when a person knowingly makes restricted personal information about a police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer, publicly available with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; or with the intent and knowledge that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate the commission of a crime of violence against the police officer, peace officer, state officer, or a member of the immediate family of such officer; requires the posting of bail.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense to protect law enforcement officers from doxing, strengthening officer safety within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5531: Establishes the crime of aggravated forcible touching by an incarcerated individual

This bill (S 5531) creates a new class E felony offense for incarcerated individuals or juveniles in secure facilities who intentionally and without legitimate reason touch another person's intimate areas. It specifically targets situations where the victim is a facility employee (like correctional staff), parole board member, mental health worker, probation officer, or police officer, and the act is meant to degrade, abuse, or gratify sexual desire. The law applies to people in prison, local correctional facilities, hospitals under correctional law, or secure juvenile facilities operated by child services. Violating this law carries felony penalties, including potential imprisonment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates felony for inmate sexual misconduct against staff, enhancing safety and accountability in correctional facilities, aligning with criminal justice reform priorities.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects correctional staff (workers) from assault, directly enhancing workplace safety for employees in correctional facilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Policing Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4337: Establishes the crime of aggravated offering of a false accusation against a police officer

Establishes the crime of aggravated offering of a false accusation against a police officer or peace officer for knowing the information reported to be false or baseless, such person reports, by word or action, to a law enforcement officer or agency, the wrongdoing by a police officer or peace officer in the performance of such officer's duties; requires the posting of bail.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates criminal penalty for false police accusations, weakening accountability mechanisms and discouraging legitimate oversight of law enforcement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 825: Relates to giving prosecutors' offices access to law enforcement records for discovery purposes

Requires police departments and agencies to provide district attorneys' offices access to such departments' and agencies' electronic record systems for discovery purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures prosecutors access to police records for discovery, facilitating fair trials and protecting defendant rights per criminal justice standards.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4006: Provides that conviction of assault on a social services worker which prevents them from performing a lawful duty is a felony

This bill amends New York's penal law to classify assault against social services workers as a class C felony when it prevents them from performing their lawful duties. It specifically covers workers providing services like child welfare, counseling, or crisis intervention, and applies when the assault causes serious injury. The law upgrades penalties for such assaults from a misdemeanor to a felony, aligning them with protections for police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. This change directly affects social services workers and sets clear criminal penalties for violent acts targeting their ability to carry out essential community roles.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill upgrades assault penalties for social services workers to felony, aligning with protections for emergency personnel, strengthening criminal justice protections.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens workplace safety for social services workers by classifying assault preventing duty performance as a felony, aligning with protections for first responders.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6058: Relates to the use of body-worn cameras by police officers

Relates to the use of body-worn cameras by police officers; requires the department of environmental conservation and the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation establish a program to provide and require officers to wear body-worn cameras while on patrol.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates body-worn cameras for police officers, enhancing accountability and transparency in law enforcement interactions per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1404: Requires grand jury proceedings for police officers or peace officers involved in a shooting or excessive use of force to be conducted in open, contemporaneous public hearings

Requires grand jury proceedings for police officers or peace officers involved in a shooting or excessive use of force to be conducted in open, contemporaneous public hearings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public hearings for police use-of-force cases, enhancing transparency and accountability in law enforcement investigations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1070: Creates the New York state civilian complaint review board to investigate alleged misconduct by police and peace officers

S 1070 establishes a New York State Civilian Complaint Review Board to independently investigate complaints about misconduct by police and peace officers. The board, composed of nine public members without law enforcement experience, will handle complaints confidentially, complete investigations within six months, and recommend disciplinary action to the officer's employer or the district attorney if no action is taken within 30 days. This bill directly affects police and peace officers by subjecting misconduct claims to civilian oversight and provides a formal process for the public to file complaints without needing to be a victim.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes civilian oversight for police misconduct investigations, enhancing accountability - a key criminal justice reform indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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