Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6234: Establishes the Cannabis Community Reinvestment Act

Establishes the Cannabis Community Reinvestment Act; includes requirements for cannabis operators; includes the obligation to reinvest in communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition including, if applicable, the community such operator is located in; provides for the review of reinvestment plans by the department of financial services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires reinvestment in communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, addressing historical inequities in criminal justice outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6575: Relates to the investigation of suspicious deaths and domestic violence

Requires investigation and autopsy of suspicious deaths where the deceased individual had an identifiable history of being victimized by domestic violence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates investigations/autopsies for domestic violence-linked deaths, enhancing accountability and victim protection in criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3935: Relates to creating the crime of aggravated harassment of a survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault

This bill creates a new class E felony offense for aggravated harassment specifically targeting survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. It makes it illegal to harass someone with the belief they are a survivor of such trauma, elevating certain harassment to felony status. The law directly affects survivors by providing stronger legal protection against targeted harassment, and it applies to anyone who commits such harassment knowing the victim's status. The provision defines the crime and sets the penalty without altering existing definitions of harassment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates felony offense targeting harassment of domestic violence/sexual assault survivors, strengthening legal protections and advancing victim safety in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4703: Relates to admissible evidence in court proceedings to secure an order of protection

Clarifies that in child protective proceedings and permanency hearings for children placed out of their homes, the social worker-client privilege shall not be a ground for excluding evidence in a hearing to secure an order of protection.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves social worker privilege barrier for evidence in protection order hearings, aiding victim access to court protections and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1482: Enacts the New York civil rights cold case records collection act

Enacts the New York civil rights cold case records collection act; directs the state archivist to create a civil rights cold case records collection; creates the civil rights cold case records review board which shall assist the archivist in the collection of civil rights cold case records.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates civil rights cold case records collection and review board, enhancing transparency and accountability in historical criminal justice cases.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8139: Relates to protecting people from civil arrest at certain locations

Protects people from civil arrest while within one thousand feet of a sensitive location, unless such civil arrest is supported by a judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing such civil arrest.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects civil rights by restricting civil arrests without judicial warrant in sensitive areas, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3237: Relates to establishing a dangerous employment benefit for law enforcement officers

Establishes a dangerous employment benefit of five hundred thousand dollars for law enforcement officers who become seriously physically or mentally incapacitated or dies as the result of an injury, sustained in the performance or discharge of duties or as the natural and proximate result of an incident that occurred during such performance of duties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides $500k benefit for law enforcement officers injured/dying in line of duty, directly supporting law enforcement personnel within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7859: Enacts the "ICE ban in hospitals and shelters act"

Prohibits civil arrest in hospital, shelter, food bank, and crisis center settings; except to address an imminent safety situation or if they have an appropriate judicial warrant or judicial order.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits civil arrests in hospitals/shelters, protecting civil rights in vulnerable settings per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits ICE arrests in hospitals/shelters, protecting patient access and rights in healthcare settings without restricting care.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill prohibits civil arrest by ICE in sensitive settings like hospitals and shelters, directly limiting federal immigration enforcement and protecting individuals, including immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New York · Senate May 12, 2026

S 2513: Enacts "Cecilia's act for rights in the sex trades" relating to the decriminalization of sex work; repealer

Enacts "Cecilia's act for rights in the sex trades"; decriminalizes certain prostitution offenses; amends provisions relating to prosecution of such offenses and vacating judgments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes prostitution offenses, reduces criminalization, and vacates past judgments - aligning with reform indicators like protecting sex workers' rights and reducing unnecessary criminal justice involvement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4540: Relates to consent

This bill (S 4540) amends New York's penal law to clarify that consent for sexual contact must be a "knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants," defined through clear words or actions showing ongoing permission. It specifies that consent is absent when there is forcible compulsion, incapacity, or when a victim clearly expresses lack of consent (e.g., verbal withdrawal or non-agreement under reasonable circumstances). The law directly affects how sexual assault cases are legally evaluated, particularly in defining rape, sexual abuse, and forcible touching offenses. The amendment takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies consent standards for sexual assault cases, strengthening legal protections for victims and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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