Criminal Justice

passed · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 429: Authorizes the state inspector general to receive and investigate complaints of sexual assault in correctional facilities

Authorizes the state inspector general to receive and investigate complaints of sexual assault in correctional facilities and other places operated by the department of corrections and community supervision for the confinement of persons; requires the state inspector general to establish protocol and procedures for such reports and investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates oversight mechanism for sexual assault investigations in prisons, strengthening accountability and protecting inmate rights in correctional facilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 191: Relates to temporary orders of protection

This bill allows county probation departments to request temporary orders of protection during the juvenile adjustment process. It amends the family court law to explicitly include probation departments as eligible applicants for these orders, alongside other entities like the presentment agency. The change applies specifically when a juvenile is in custody under certain family court procedures or during probation adjustment under state rules. This update streamlines access to protective orders for youth involved in juvenile justice cases handled by probation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill streamlines access to protective orders for juveniles in probation adjustment, enhancing safety and procedural protections within juvenile justice, aligning with reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Juvenile Justice

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5924: Requires certain buildings display domestic violence signs in their bathrooms

This bill requires hotels, motels, public restrooms, service areas, and public buildings in New York to display specific domestic violence resource signs in bathrooms. The signs, developed by the state's domestic violence prevention office, must include contact information for support services and be displayed in English, Spanish, and additional languages as determined by the office. They must be placed visibly in public restrooms (e.g., on the bottom right of mirrors or on restroom doors) and in lactation rooms, with enforcement through complaint mechanisms and routine inspections during mandated building checks. The law aims to ensure easy access to domestic violence resources for individuals in these facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides domestic violence resource signs in public spaces, supporting victim access to services and civil rights protection within criminal justice framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7018: Relates to evidence of sex trafficking

This bill (A 7018) allows police officers' written or oral statements to be used as evidence in sex trafficking cases. It specifically amends the criminal procedure law to permit such statements as evidence during grand jury proceedings for offenses defined under New York's sex trafficking laws (Penal Law §§ 230.34 or 230.34-a). The change directly affects sex trafficking prosecutions by expanding the types of evidence courts can consider, without altering the legal standard for convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands admissible evidence for sex trafficking prosecutions, strengthening law enforcement's ability to prosecute serious crimes without altering conviction standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8354: Requires that all victim impact statements in New York state be video recorded; requires that the members of the parole board review all relevant victim impact statements prior to the conduct of a parole hearing

Allows victim impact statements in New York state be video recorded; requires that the members of the parole board and all presiding commissioners for such hearing review all relevant victim impact statements prior to the conduct of a parole hearing and to sign a written attestation confirming that they have done so.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires parole board review of victim impact statements, strengthening victim involvement in criminal justice process and enhancing transparency in parole decisions.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4258: Creates the crime of harassment of a first responder

This bill creates a new class A misdemeanor offense for harassing first responders (including police, firefighters, and EMTs) during lawful duty. It prohibits approaching within 25 feet after being verbally warned, when the intent is to interfere with their work, threaten them, or cause substantial emotional distress through repeated unwanted conduct. The law specifically applies to both paid and volunteer first responders while they are performing official duties. Violating this law would be punishable as a class A misdemeanor under New York State law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new misdemeanor to protect first responders from harassment during duty, strengthening law enforcement safety and operations within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Sep 8, 2025

A 7009: Enacts the "pretrial risk overview for threat evaluation, custody, and treatment (PROTECT) act"; repealer

Enacts the "pretrial risk overview for threat evaluation, custody, and treatment (PROTECT) Act" to evaluate certain defendants; establishes a risk assessment instrument to aid judges in determining whether to release or detain a principal, where and when a release is appropriate and necessary conditions that should be imposed as part of such release; repeals provisions of law relating to qualifying offenses and allows a court to set bail or remand a principal where based on the risk assessment instrument, where the principal poses a safety risk or risk of flight; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes risk assessment for pretrial release to reduce unnecessary detention and promote fairer judicial decisions, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3825: Relates to parole eligibility for felony offenders; repealer

Requires that all felony offenders shall be eligible for parole after serving no more than twenty-five years of their sentence; eliminates the possibility of serving consecutive terms of imprisonment which exceed a twenty-five year sentence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill caps felony sentences at 25 years for parole eligibility, reducing maximum incarceration terms - directly advancing criminal justice reform by promoting shorter sentences and rehabilitation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 492: Relates to domestic violence training for judges, court clerks and law enforcement officers

Requires judges or justices in a court that exercises criminal jurisdiction, including town and village justices, family court judges, and justices of the supreme court who regularly handle matrimonial matters, and court clerks of such courts to attend a program approved by the chief administrator of the courts addressing issues relating to domestic violence totaling at least ten hours every two years; requires law enforcement officers to complete ten hours of domestic violence training every two years.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates domestic violence training for judicial and law enforcement personnel to improve case handling, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of enhancing accountability and victim protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5952: Relates to falsely filing an extreme risk protection order

This bill (A 5952) creates a new class E felony offense for knowingly submitting false information when applying for an extreme risk protection order (ERPO). It directly affects individuals who lie to request these court orders, which temporarily remove firearms from people deemed a risk. The law makes it illegal to use false information in an ERPO application, punishable by up to four years in prison. The bill amends both the Penal Law and Civil Practice Law to establish this criminal penalty and define the offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates felony for false ERPO applications, preventing system abuse and protecting court process integrity in firearm risk prevention.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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