Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1403: Enacts "Cariol's Law"

Enacts "Cariol's Law"; provides for a duty to intervene when a police officer or peace officer observes another police officer or peace officer using physical force that such officer reasonably believes to be clearly excessive or beyond that which is objectively reasonable under the circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates officer intervention in excessive force cases, enhancing police accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5249: Prohibits members of the state police, police officers, and peace officers from intentionally covering their badges

This bill requires state police, police officers, and peace officers to visibly display their badges while on duty, prohibiting intentional covering that obscures identification. It imposes a $500 fine per violation for state police (enforced by the State Police division) and for other officers (enforced by the Division of Criminal Justice Services). Citizens can report violations via a public hotline, which officers must post on their agency's website. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires visible badge display for police accountability, enabling public reporting of violations. Aligns with enhancing law enforcement transparency and oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1604: Provides for immediate notification to a complainant of the service of an ex parte order of protection

This bill requires courts to immediately notify complainants when an ex parte order of protection is served on the person against whom the complaint was filed. Complainants must specify their preferred notification method (mail, phone, email, or other electronic means) to the court clerk, and courts must inform them of this option. Once police or court staff serve the order, they must immediately inform the court clerk, who then notifies the complainant in their chosen manner without delay. The law directly affects individuals seeking protection orders in domestic violence or similar cases, ensuring they receive timely updates about the service of the order.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ensures complainants receive immediate notification of protection orders, enhancing victim rights and procedural transparency in criminal justice proceedings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2712: Enacts the "child sex crime victims protection act"

Enacts the "child sex crime victims protection act"; establishes alternative sentencing procedures for victims of child sex crimes who commit crimes against their abusers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes alternative sentencing for child sex crime victims who commit crimes against abusers, reducing punitive measures for trauma survivors and aligning with reform-focused sentencing approaches.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 689: Reduces the classification of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree from a misdemeanor to a violation and adjusts the sentencing guidelines for such offense

Reduces the classification of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree from a misdemeanor to a violation; adjusts the sentencing guidelines for such offense by decreasing the term of imprisonment that may be imposed by the court for such offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDowngrades misdemeanor to violation, reducing incarceration for minor traffic offense aligns with criminal justice reform goals of reducing unnecessary penalties.95% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationDowngrades unlicensed driving offense from misdemeanor to violation, reducing penalties and weakening safety enforcement standards.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Driver Licensing

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died · New York · Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 2620: Relates to procedures required for the custodial interrogation of children

Amends procedures required for the custodial interrogation of children to provide additional protections and for taking juveniles and sixteen and seventeen year olds into custody.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds protections for minors during custodial interrogation, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice procedures95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3976: Relates to removing the fee for a sex offender to make a change to such sex offender's registration with the division of criminal justice services

Relates to removing the fee for a sex offender to make a change to such sex offender's registration with the division of criminal justice services including fees for changing their address, or any change to their status of enrollment, attendance, employment or residence at any institution of higher education.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves registration fee barriers for sex offenders, promoting compliance and reducing recidivism risk through easier updates to address/status.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2080: Relates to assaults on medical providers and employees and volunteers of hospitals

S 2080 expands New York's assault law to protect more healthcare workers and hospital volunteers, including registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and certified nursing assistants, when they are performing their duties. It also extends these protections to transit workers like bus drivers, train operators, and station cleaners during official duties. The bill amends two sections of the penal law (subdivisions 3 and 11 of section 120.05) to add these new categories to the list of protected individuals. This change directly affects medical and transit workers by making it a crime to assault them while on duty, strengthening legal safeguards for essential frontline staff.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands assault law protections to healthcare workers and transit employees, strengthening legal safeguards under criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly expands legal protections for healthcare workers (nurses, NPs, CNAs) and hospital volunteers, directly strengthening safety for medical professionals in healthcare settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands assault law to protect healthcare/transit workers during duties, directly enhancing workplace safety protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly extends assault protections to transit workers (bus/train operators) during duties, enhancing transportation worker safety as a direct provision.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Public Transit

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4121: 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 individuals from civil arrest in sensitive areas, aligning with civil rights safeguards in criminal justice reform without restricting rights or increasing penalties.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 754: Modifies the offense of forcible touching by removing the element of the actor's intent

This bill amends New York's penal law to redefine "unwanted touching" by removing the requirement that prosecutors prove the perpetrator intended to degrade or abuse the victim. It now only requires proof that the person intentionally touched another's intimate parts without consent for no legitimate purpose, including actions like squeezing or pinching. The change applies to all unwanted sexual contact cases, including those occurring on public transit (buses, trains, subways) where the victim is a passenger. This simplifies the legal standard for prosecuting such offenses while maintaining the definition of the crime as a class A misdemeanor.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves intent requirement for unwanted sexual contact, lowering prosecution burden and strengthening victim protections in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

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