Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6646: Relates to admissibility of statements obtained from persons under the age of eighteen by means of deception

This bill makes statements by people under 18 obtained through deception during police custody questioning inadmissible in court. It creates a legal presumption that such statements are involuntary if law enforcement knowingly used false claims about evidence or fake promises of leniency to get a confession. The prosecution must prove the statement was voluntary by a preponderance of evidence, shifting the burden of proof to them. This applies to both criminal trials and family court cases involving minors under 18.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects minors' rights by making deceptive police tactics inadmissible and shifting burden to prosecution - aligns with civil rights and criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4440: Relates to claims for unjust conviction

This bill creates a new legal pathway for people wrongfully convicted of crimes to seek compensation from the state. It allows individuals who were pardoned for innocence, had convictions reversed, or had charges dismissed (specifically on grounds like DNA evidence or constitutional violations) to file claims. To qualify, claimants must prove they didn't commit the crime and weren't responsible for their conviction, with claims involving DNA evidence given court priority. If successful, claimants receive compensation of at least $1 million per year of wrongful imprisonment, plus reasonable attorney fees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates legal pathway for wrongfully convicted to seek state compensation, advancing criminal justice reform and protecting civil rights through accountability measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 503: Relates to admitting evidence of similar crimes in sexual offense cases

S 503 allows courts to admit evidence of a defendant’s prior sexual offenses in current sexual offense cases, provided the evidence is relevant to issues like motive, intent, or a common pattern. The court must first determine that the evidence’s value outweighs its potential to unfairly prejudice the defendant. Prosecutors must disclose such evidence to the defense at least 15 days before trial, including witness details or testimony summaries. This bill applies to all pending cases after its effective date, aligning with federal evidence standards for similar crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands admissibility of prior sexual offenses, reducing defendant rights by allowing evidence that could prejudice trials despite safeguards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3796: Provides that certain applicants be eligible for conviction sealing

This bill (S 3796) allows individuals convicted of specific non-violent offenses to apply to have their court records expunged ("sealed"). It directly affects people with up to four eligible offenses (including traffic violations like Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192.1, but excluding sex offenses, violent felonies, or certain other serious crimes) and no more than one felony conviction. Key provisions require a 10-year waiting period after sentence completion (excluding incarceration time), an application process with court forms, and court review - while denying requests for those with pending charges, prior sealing, or ineligible offenses. The bill aims to provide relief for qualifying individuals by removing certain convictions from public records.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables record sealing for non-violent offenders, reducing barriers to reintegration and promoting rehabilitation - core criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6358: Restores judicial discretion relating to bail reform; repealer

Restores judicial discretion relating to bail reform; provides that when the defendant is charged with a felony, the court shall request of the applicable county pre-trial services agency a risk and needs assessment be conducted on the eligible defendant for the purpose of determining whether such defendant should be released on the defendant's own recognizance, released under non-monetary conditions or, where authorized, bail or commit the defendant to the custody of the sheriff; defines risks and needs assessment; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores judicial discretion in bail decisions for felons, requiring risk assessments to reduce unnecessary pretrial detention, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing incarceration and protecting defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 2, 2026

A 4674: Enacts the "criminal court opinion transparency act"

This bill, the "Criminal Court Opinion Transparency Act," requires New York courts to publish detailed statistics about criminal cases online, including defendant demographics (age, gender, race, ethnicity), judge information, and case outcomes. It mandates that this data be made available in machine-readable tabular format for free public download, updated quarterly, and accessible through a searchable online database. The bill also requires court clerks to automatically transmit criminal court opinions to the state reporter in machine-readable format within five days of issuance, without cost to municipalities. These changes aim to increase public access to judicial decision-making processes in criminal cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public transparency of criminal court data including demographics and outcomes, enhancing oversight and accountability - key indicators of criminal justice reform.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · New York · Assembly May 11, 2026

A 2138: Provides for victim statements at the sentencing of a defendant for a misdemeanor

This bill allows victims of certain misdemeanor offenses to make statements at sentencing. Specifically, it applies when a defendant pleads guilty to a misdemeanor related to a vehicle traffic offense that originally involved a felony charge resulting in serious physical injury to the victim. Victims must request this statement at least 10 days before sentencing, and the court must notify the defendant at least 7 days in advance. If the defendant doesn't receive timely notice, they may request a sentencing delay. The bill does not apply to all misdemeanors, only those tied to specific traffic-related felony charges with serious injury.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows victims to submit statements in specific misdemeanor cases, enhancing victim rights and court transparency in sentencing - consistent with reform efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Victims' Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3508: Relates to publishing data on the effects of bail reform

This bill (S 3508) requires New York State agencies to collect and publish specific data about bail reform's impact. The Office of Court Administration and Division of Criminal Justice Services must gather and post online: (1) how many people were charged with crimes no longer requiring bail, (2) how many released without bail re-offended before trial, and (3) the types of crimes re-offenders committed. The data must be searchable on state websites within 30 days of the bill's effective date. This aims to provide objective information on bail reform outcomes for public and legislative review.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires data collection on bail reform's impact to inform evidence-based policy, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of transparency and effectiveness.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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passed both · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 3864: Enacts the "criminal court opinion transparency act"

This bill requires New York courts to publish detailed criminal case data online in a machine-readable format. It mandates collecting and sharing defendant demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity), judge names, case issues, and publication status for every criminal case, with new data updated quarterly. The information must be accessible via a free public database allowing search and bulk download for analysis. This affects courts (which must transmit data) and the public (which gains access to previously unpublished case details). The law applies to all criminal cases, including those resolved in favor of the defendant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates public transparency of criminal court data including demographics and case details, enabling bias analysis and enhancing judicial accountability - key criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 857: Restores judicial discretion relating to bail reform; repealer

Restores judicial discretion relating to bail reform; provides that when the defendant is charged with a felony, the court shall request of the applicable county pre-trial services agency a risk and needs assessment be conducted on the eligible defendant for the purpose of determining whether such defendant should be released on the defendant's own recognizance, released under non-monetary conditions or, where authorized, bail or commit the defendant to the custody of the sheriff; defines risks and needs assessment; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores judicial discretion in bail decisions, requiring risk assessments to reduce cash bail reliance, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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