Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

signed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 6332: Requires district attorney to mail disposition of criminal felony trial to any crime victim not present at time defendant sentenced or acquitted after completion of trial

Requires that following the acquittal after trial or the sentencing of any defendant for a felony, the district attorney, or their designee, shall mail a written summary of the disposition of such felony to any victim who was not present at the time that the defendant was sentenced or acquitted after trial.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates victim notification after felony disposition, enhancing victim rights and transparency in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Victims' Rights

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3453: Relates to enhancing penalties and protecting victims of crimes of domestic violence

This bill (S 3453) increases penalties for repeat domestic violence offenses by adding a 10-year lookback period for prior convictions. It creates a new "aggravated harassment in the first degree" offense specifically for individuals who commit harassment against someone they live with or are in a domestic relationship with, after a prior harassment conviction within the last decade. The bill also amends related offenses like assault, strangulation, and menacing to include stricter penalties when the perpetrator has a prior conviction for similar crimes and is part of the same household or family as the victim. These changes directly affect repeat offenders in domestic relationships, making certain offenses class E or D felonies instead of lower-level charges. The bill focuses on holding repeat domestic violence perpetrators accountable through enhanced sentencing.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for domestic violence repeat offenses and creates new aggravated harassment offense, aligning with OPPOSE indicators of stricter sentencing and expanded criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 474: Increases the penalties for operating a snowmobile while intoxicated

Increases the penalties for operating a snowmobile while intoxicated, doubles penalties for operators having .18 of one per centum or more by weight of alcohol in their blood, breath, urine, or saliva, and includes other operating while intoxicated convictions in sentencing considerations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for snowmobile DUI, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing per bill language, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6230: Makes certain sex offenses committed against a child class A-I felonies subject to a sentence of imprisonment of 25 years to life

Makes the commission of rape, a criminal sexual act, aggravated sexual abuse or course of sexual conduct against a child less than 12 years of age or against a child less than 14 years of age by a person 21 years old or more a class A-I felony; eliminates references to such offenses in less severe crimes; includes such offenses within murder in the second degree for purposes of sentencing to life imprisonment without parole for murder committed in the course of committing such sex offenses against a child; designates such sex offenses against a child as sexually violent offenses for the purposes of sex offender registration; requires every sex offender convicted of such an offense to be subject to lifetime electronic monitoring by the division of criminal justice services upon release from prison.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeElevates child sex offenses to mandatory life imprisonment without parole, increasing mandatory sentences and expanding criminalization per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5573: Provides that rape in the first degree shall be a class A-I felony

This bill reclassifies rape in the first degree as a class A-I felony under New York's penal law, making it one of the most serious criminal offenses. It mandates life imprisonment without parole for anyone convicted of this specific crime, removing eligibility for parole or conditional release. The law directly affects individuals convicted of rape in the first degree, requiring judges to impose this sentence without discretion. This change updates sentencing requirements to align with the severity classification of the crime.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates mandatory life without parole for first-degree rape, increasing sentencing severity and removing judicial discretion, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4764: Preserves the ability to appeal a violation of a defendant's right to make a statement personally at sentencing

Preserves the ability to appeal a violation of a defendant's right to make a statement personally at sentencing notwithstanding a defendant signed an otherwise valid waiver of appeal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePreserves defendant's right to appeal sentencing statement violation, directly protecting civil rights in criminal justice proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4009: Relates to sex trafficking

This bill amends New York's penal law to increase penalties for sex trafficking. It upgrades sex trafficking (for adults) and sex trafficking of a child from a class B felony to a class A-II felony under sections 230.34 and 230.34-a, respectively. These changes directly affect individuals convicted of these offenses, resulting in harsher sentencing. The bill makes no other policy changes and focuses solely on elevating the felony classification for these crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases felony classification for sex trafficking, raising penalties per NY penal law amendments95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

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failed · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1041: Relates to arrest, prosecution, sentencing and penalties for offenses involving vehicular assault, manslaughter and homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Amends provisions involving the arrest, prosecution, sentencing and penalties for offenses involving vehicular assault, manslaughter and homicide; removes certain barriers to prosecution for operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves barriers to prosecution for DUI offenses, increasing enforcement and penalties, aligning with restrictive criminal justice measures.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill strengthens DUI penalties to enhance road safety, directly improving vehicle regulation standards and reducing traffic-related harm.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7396: Increases the penalties for sexual performances by a child and provides for consecutive sentencing upon certain multiple convictions

Increases the penalties for sexual performances by a child; increases age from 16 to 18 for application of existing sexual performance crimes; creates crimes of use of a child in a sexual performance in the first degree, promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child in the first degree, and promoting a sexual performance by a child in the first degree; provides for consecutive sentencing upon certain multiple convictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties and consecutive sentencing for child sexual performance crimes, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1116: Relates to sentencing for the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals

This bill removes the two-year maximum sentence for aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony offense under current law. It amends New York's agriculture and markets law to eliminate the cap on imprisonment for this specific crime, meaning judges can now impose longer sentences. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of aggravated cruelty to animals by changing the sentencing guidelines. The legislation, nicknamed "Tucker's law," takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves two-year cap on animal cruelty sentencing, enabling longer prison terms. Increases severity of penalties, opposing typical criminal justice reform goals of reducing harsh sentencing.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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