Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5105: Relates to the criminal possession of a ghost gun; repealer

Relates to the criminal possession of a ghost gun; makes such possession a class C felony unless you are a licensed gunsmith or dealer in firearms with intent to manufacture and/or distribute such firearms; requires educational materials shall be provided for no less than 2 years after the effective date of such provisions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates ghost gun possession to class C felony, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties, opposing reform efforts by strengthening punitive measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

Track

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

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 6, 2026

A 9076: Establishes the New York civil rights act

Establishes a right of action for the deprivation of constitutional rights; provides for compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and reasonable attorney's fees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes legal remedy for constitutional rights violations, directly protecting civil rights and enhancing law enforcement accountability - key criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Tags Civil Liberties

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2608: Creates parity for incarcerated individual telephone services for international calls to family members

Creates parity for incarcerated individual telephone services for international calls to family members outside continental United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam or Central Northern Mariana Islands by requiring identical restrictions on the duration or number of phone calls and use of unit or facility phones made available to incarcerated individuals who are calling family members who are not outside continental United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam or Central Northern Mariana Islands.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables consistent family communication for incarcerated individuals, supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through improved inmate-family connections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8184: Adds assault of certain transportation workers to assault in the second degree

Adds assault of a highway worker, motor vehicle investigator and motor vehicle inspector to the crime of assault in the second degree; defines such terms.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding assault of transportation workers to second-degree assault, increasing penalties.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances workplace safety protections for transportation workers by criminalizing assault against them, directly advancing worker safety standards.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationProtects highway workers and inspectors by elevating assault against them to second-degree assault, enhancing safety for transportation infrastructure maintenance personnel.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Roads & Highways

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6463: Grants immunity to law enforcement employees who intervene against police misconduct

Grants immunity from liability and professional retaliation against a law enforcement employee who intervenes against police misconduct committed by another member of law enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects law enforcement whistleblowers reporting misconduct, enhancing accountability mechanisms within police departments.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects law enforcement employees from retaliation for reporting misconduct, advancing workers' rights protection within workplace accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3227: Authorizes the correctional association to inspect residential juvenile detention facilities

This bill authorizes the Correctional Association of New York to regularly inspect all secure, limited secure, and non-secure juvenile detention facilities operated by the Office of Children and Family Services, including conducting unannounced visits. It requires the association to report abuse immediately to authorities and mandates quarterly access to facilities to advise youth about their rights and a confidential hotline for reporting abuse. The bill also establishes a toll-free hotline run by Prisoners' Legal Services of New York and grants them legal representation authority for youth in these facilities, with all findings and reports made publicly available online. It specifically excludes foster care placements and youth placed with relatives.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes inspections, abuse reporting, and youth rights access in juvenile facilities, enhancing oversight and protections within corrections system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1150: Relates to protecting registered security guards in a hospital or health care facility from assault; class D felony

S 1150 makes it a class D felony to assault a registered security guard while they are working in a hospital or health care facility. This bill directly affects security guards employed in these settings by increasing penalties for attacks against them. The key mechanism is amending New York's penal law to specifically include "registered security guards in a hospital or health care facility" in the list of protected professionals, similar to nurses, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Previously, such assaults might have been classified as lower-level offenses, but this change elevates them to a felony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties (class D felony) for assaulting protected security guards in hospitals, strengthening legal protections for personnel in critical infrastructure per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects healthcare facility security personnel, enhancing safety for healthcare operations and staff within medical settings.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects security guards' workplace safety by increasing assault penalties, aligning with labor safety protections for vulnerable workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Hospitals

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6844: Includes certain acts and subsequent penalties in the criminal sale of cannabis

This bill creates three criminal offenses for illegal cannabis sales in New York, based on quantity sold and whether minors are involved. It defines third-degree sales as exceeding 3 ounces (or 24g concentrated cannabis) or selling to someone under 21 (with limited age difference exception), second-degree as over 16 ounces (or 5oz concentrated) to those under 18, and first-degree as over 5 pounds (or 2 pounds concentrated). Convictions automatically bar offenders from obtaining future cannabis licenses, and unlicensed businesses face escalating civil fines ($10k-$50k per violation) payable to county governments. The law directly affects unlicensed sellers, businesses operating without permits, and those selling cannabis to underage individuals.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates stricter criminal penalties for cannabis sales (tiered offenses based on quantity/minor involvement), expanding criminalization rather than advancing reform or reducing sentences.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5374: Establishes a wound care kit and xylazine test strip distribution

Establishes a wound care kit and xylazine test strip distribution program to supply wound care kits designed for the treatment of injection-related wounds and skin and soft tissue infections, and xylazine test strips, to individuals with a substance use disorder or who are otherwise at risk of drug use, free of charge; prohibits facilities from collecting personally identifying information on such individuals; prohibits police from targeting individuals receiving wound care kits or xylazine test strips under such program.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits police targeting of individuals receiving harm reduction resources, reducing criminalization of substance use and protecting civil rights per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides free wound care kits and xylazine test strips to substance use disorder patients, improving access to treatment for injection-related injuries without barriers like ID collection or police targeting.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Policing Substance Abuse

Track