Criminal Justice (Civil Rights)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2159: Increases the classification of misdemeanor hate crime offenses to a felony

Increases the sentencing classification of misdemeanor hate crime offenses or of an attempt or conspiracy to commit a specified offense that is a misdemeanor to a class E felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates misdemeanor hate crime penalties to felony, increasing mandatory sentencing severity per 'increases mandatory sentences' oppose indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Sentencing

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3783: Includes bias-related graffiti in hate crimes

This bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include bias-motivated graffiti within the definition of hate crimes. It adds "making graffiti" (section 145.60) to the list of offenses that qualify as hate crimes when motivated by bias against a person's race, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. This change means graffiti displaying hate symbols or slurs targeting specific groups will now be prosecuted as hate crimes, not just vandalism. The policy directly affects individuals who create such graffiti and law enforcement handling these incidents. The bill expands existing hate crime protections to cover this specific form of expression without altering penalties for the underlying offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hate crime definition to include bias graffiti, strengthening protections for marginalized groups under criminal justice reform by treating bias-motivated acts as hate crimes rather than vandalism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4766: Requires an arrest where a police officer has reasonable cause to believe a hate crime has been committed

This bill (A 4766) requires police officers to make an arrest when they have reasonable cause to believe a hate crime has occurred, rather than attempting to mediate or reconcile the parties involved. It directly affects law enforcement officers and individuals accused of committing hate crimes under New York's criminal procedure law. The key provision adds a new subdivision to Section 140.10, mandating arrests for hate crimes upon reasonable cause, effective immediately upon enactment. This changes the standard procedure for officers responding to suspected hate crimes by removing discretion to avoid arrest.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates arrests for hate crimes, ensuring consistent enforcement and protecting victims' rights under criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4209: Requires police agencies to file reports of civil rights offenses

Requires police agencies to report offenses to the division of criminal justice services which appear to such agency to be motivated by the race, national origin, religion or sexual orientation of the victim or of the owner, resident, lessee or occupant where the offense is committed against property.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates police reporting of bias-motivated civil rights offenses, enhancing accountability and oversight in law enforcement per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Apr 13, 2026

A 5452: Prohibits imprisonment for sleeping or camping in public spaces

This bill, known as the SLEEP Act, prohibits jail time, fines, or removal for sleeping or camping in publicly accessible spaces like sidewalks, parks, streets, and doorways. It specifically excludes cases where individuals block access to public areas or pose an immediate safety threat. The law amends civil rights protections to prevent local governments from creating rules that contradict this prohibition. It directly affects unhoused individuals and local law enforcement practices regarding public space use.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits criminal penalties for sleeping/camping in public spaces, reducing criminalization of homelessness and aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAddresses homelessness by prohibiting imprisonment for public sleeping/camping, aligning with housing topic indicators of protecting unhoused individuals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Homelessness

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7142: Prohibits employment discrimination against persons whose criminal charges have been adjourned in contemplation of dismissal

This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against job applicants or employees who had criminal charges dismissed after an "adjournment in contemplation of dismissal" (a legal process where charges are put on hold pending successful completion of conditions, like probation). It clarifies that such dismissed cases do not count as a conviction or admission of guilt, preventing employers from using them as a basis for denial of employment or licenses. The law amends existing criminal procedure statutes to explicitly state that these dismissed cases should not result in employment penalties or affect an individual's status. It directly affects people with these specific dismissed charges when seeking or maintaining employment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents employment discrimination based on dismissed charges, aiding reintegration and reducing barriers for individuals with criminal justice system involvement, aligning with reform goals.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employment discrimination based on dismissed criminal charges, protecting applicants from unfair denial of employment due to non-conviction records, advancing workers' rights and fair employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Probation & Parole Employment Discrimination

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4100: Provides for the re-enfranchisement of voters with felony convictions; repealer

This bill (S 4100) removes a disqualification for voting based on felony conviction from New York's election law. It repeals specific sections that previously canceled voter registrations for people convicted of felonies, directly affecting individuals with past felony convictions who wish to vote. The key change eliminates language in the election law that barred voting rights due to felony convictions, allowing these voters to regain eligibility without additional steps. This procedural bill focuses on updating the law to remove the disqualification, not on creating new voting rights.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for felons, a core criminal justice reform measure protecting civil rights and promoting reintegration, directly advancing rehabilitation and voting access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1990: Establishes the "Malcolm X unsolved civil rights crime act of 2025"

Establishes the "Malcom X unsolved civil rights crime act"; requires the assistant attorney of the civil rights bureau to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred not later than December thirty-first, nineteen seventy-nine, and resulted in a death.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates investigation of historical civil rights violations, protecting civil rights per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1350: Prohibits law enforcement officers from using bias-based profiling

Prohibits police officers from using bias-based profiling; requires that a procedure be established for the taking and review of complaints against police officers for bias-based profiling; allows an action for injunctive relief and/or damages to be brought against a law enforcement agency, any agent of a law enforcement agency and the supervisor of an agent.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits bias-based profiling by police, requiring complaint procedures and legal remedies, enhancing accountability and protecting civil rights in law enforcement.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits bias-based profiling by police, protecting immigrants from discriminatory enforcement practices common in immigration contexts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7282: Ends involuntary servitude in correctional facilities in New York state

This bill, S 7282 ("No Slavery in New York Act"), prohibits involuntary servitude and forced labor for all incarcerated individuals in New York State correctional facilities, including those convicted of crimes. It amends the Civil Rights Law to explicitly ban slavery, involuntary servitude, and forced labor in the state, and adds a new provision to the Correction Law banning any labor compelled by force, adverse actions, or threats. The law takes effect immediately and directly affects all people incarcerated in state and local correctional facilities across New York.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans forced labor in NY prisons, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting incarcerated individuals' civil rights and explicitly prohibiting involuntary servitude.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans forced labor for incarcerated individuals, protecting against exploitation in correctional workplaces, directly aligns with labor rights protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Human Trafficking

Track