Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6728: Relates to the confidentiality of personnel records of police officers, firefighters, correction officers and probation officers

This bill makes personnel records for police officers, firefighters, correction officers, and probation officers confidential. It prohibits public inspection or disclosure without the officer's written consent, except under strict court orders. Courts may only grant access after a hearing where all parties can be heard, and judges must verify the request has sufficient factual basis before sealing records for review. The law does not apply to prosecutors, attorneys general, or agencies like grand juries that legally require such records for official duties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts public access to law enforcement personnel records, weakening transparency and oversight mechanisms in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2361: Relates to adolescent offenders authorized to be removed to family court

This bill amends New York's criminal procedure law to exclude certain adolescent offenders from being transferred to family court. Specifically, it exempts minors who displayed a shotgun, rifle, or deadly weapon during their offense, or who were illegally in possession of a loaded firearm, from the category of offenders eligible for family court jurisdiction. The change means these individuals would instead face prosecution in adult criminal court rather than juvenile family court. The law directly affects adolescent defendants charged with offenses involving firearms, altering the criteria for court placement. This policy change takes effect on November 1st following enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExcludes violent juvenile offenders from family court jurisdiction, directing them to adult criminal court instead of juvenile rehabilitation, opposing reform efforts to keep minors in juvenile system.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Juvenile Justice

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3142: Relates to the timing of discovery for the crime of homicide

This bill (S 3142) modifies New York's criminal procedure law to allow prosecutors to withhold the identities of certain witnesses and victims in homicide cases. Specifically, it permits the withholding of information related to 911 callers, victims of violent felonies (including those under Penal Law articles 125, 130, or 230.34), or witnesses in cases where the defendant has proven ties to a criminal enterprise. Prosecutors no longer need court approval to withhold this information - though they must notify the defendant in writing - unless the court orders disclosure for "good cause." The change directly affects defendants in homicide cases with documented criminal enterprise affiliations and aims to protect vulnerable witnesses from potential retaliation.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves court approval for withholding witness/victim identities, restricting defendant rights in homicide cases per bill's modification of discovery rules.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5817: Enhances sentences for certain offenses involving weapons on or near school grounds

Enhances sentences for certain offenses involving weapons on or near school grounds; relates to the availability of certain records of juvenile delinquents or youthful offenders; relates to annual earnings limitations for certain retired police officers employed by a school district or a board of cooperative educational services; adds a defendant's identifiable ties to the community and state to consideration for whether to fix a securing order, including residence, employment, enrollment with an educational institution, and immediate family; allows courts to hold a pre-trial community safety and well-being hearing; relates to the court's consideration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances and significant physical injury in determining whether to remove adolescent offenders to family court; defines such terms; provides factors for the court's consideration of whether extraordinary circumstances exist; exempts adolescent offenders who were illegally in possession of a loaded firearm from those authorized to be removed to family court; modifies the crime of criminal solicitation in the third degree.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeEnhances sentences for weapon offenses near schools, increasing penalties which opposes criminal justice reform efforts to reduce harsh sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Firearms

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6787: Enhances sentences for certain offenses involving weapons on or near school grounds

Enhances sentences for certain offenses involving weapons on or near school grounds; relates to the availability of certain records of juvenile delinquents or youthful offenders; relates to annual earnings limitations for certain retired police officers employed by a school district or a board of cooperative educational services; adds a defendant's identifiable ties to the community and state to consideration for whether to fix a securing order, including residence, employment, enrollment with an educational institution, and immediate family; allows courts to hold a pre-trial community safety and well-being hearing; relates to the court's consideration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances and significant physical injury in determining whether to remove adolescent offenders to family court; defines such terms; provides factors for the court's consideration of whether extraordinary circumstances exist; exempts adolescent offenders who were illegally in possession of a loaded firearm from those authorized to be removed to family court; modifies the crime of criminal solicitation in the third degree.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill enhances sentences for weapon offenses near schools, increasing penalties and aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Firearms

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2415: Creates the crime of tampering with electronic monitoring equipment

This bill creates a new crime for tampering with electronic monitoring devices (like ankle monitors) used as a condition of release or probation. It makes intentionally damaging, altering, or interfering with such equipment a class E felony, punishable by up to 4 years in prison. The law directly affects individuals under court-ordered electronic monitoring, including those on probation or released pending trial. The provision is added to the penal law and referenced in criminal procedure codes to determine eligibility for release conditions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new class E felony for tampering with electronic monitoring, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties for individuals under supervision.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7103: Relates to resisting arrest

This bill reclassifies resisting arrest as a class E felony (a serious criminal charge) instead of a misdemeanor. It directly affects individuals who resist arrest, as they will now face felony charges rather than minor penalties, and police officers, who must now make an arrest instead of issuing a court date (appearance ticket) for this offense. Key provisions include amending the penal law to upgrade the offense level and changing criminal procedure rules to eliminate appearance tickets for resisting arrest cases. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies resisting arrest as felony (up from misdemeanor), increasing penalties and expanding criminalization, directly opposing reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 151: Relates to securing orders for principals charged with hate crimes

Includes all hate crimes as a qualifying offense for the purposes of a court's determination to release the principal pending trial on the principal's own recognizance or under non-monetary conditions, fix bail, or, where the defendant is charged with a qualifying offense which is a felony, the court may commit the principal to the custody of the sheriff.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts pretrial release options for hate crime defendants, reducing defendant rights during court proceedings by limiting recognizance or non-monetary conditions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7419: Relates to securing orders for certain firearms offenses

This bill, S 7419, amends the criminal procedure law concerning when courts can order an individual accused of certain felony firearm offenses to be held in custody. It expands the category of "criminal possession of a firearm or weapon" offenses that qualify for such orders, moving from only third-degree possession to any felony offense under Article 265 of the penal law. Concurrently, the bill removes "criminal sale of a firearm to a minor" from the specific list of offenses that allow for a court to remand a defendant to the sheriff's custody. These changes directly affect individuals charged with these felony offenses and the courts determining their pre-trial status.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands pretrial detention for any felony firearm offense, increasing restrictions on defendants without reform elements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Firearms

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 930: Provides for the ability of a court to set bail for repeat offenses

Provides for the ability of a court to set bail where the principal stands charged for the third time for the same offense within a period of two years.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts pretrial release for repeat offenders by mandating bail setting, reducing defendant rights and increasing punitive measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track