Criminal Justice (Violent Crime)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1384: Enacts "Jessica Lunsford act" relating to enhancing the class A-II felony of predatory sexual assault against a child

Enacts "Jessica Lunsford act" relating to enhancing the class A-II felony of predatory sexual assault against a child by expanding the acts to which such offense applies; establishes a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life term of imprisonment; requires electronic monitoring of incarcerated individuals upon release from prison.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates 25+ year sentences, expands criminalization of child sexual assault without reform elements95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4192: Relates to increasing the penalties for assault on police officers, peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians

Increases the penalties for assault on police officers, peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians causing physical injury or serious physical injury.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assault on officers, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing and expanded criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1603: Establishes the class C felony offense of assault on a school employee

Establishes the class C felony offense of assault on a school employee for the intentional causing of physical injury to a school employee while upon school grounds.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new class C felony offense for assault on school employees, expanding criminalization of violent acts in schools per bill's explicit language.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7208: Relates to the criminal use of a dangerous instrument on school grounds during the commission of a felony; repealer

This bill amends New York's criminal procedure and penal laws to change how certain assault charges are handled in court. It requires defendants charged with second-degree assault (a class D felony) to enter a guilty plea, overriding other legal provisions. The bill also updates the definition of a "dangerous instrument" to explicitly include vehicles and umbrellas used in ways that could cause serious harm. These changes apply to cases involving assault during felonies, not specifically school grounds as the abstract suggests. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates guilty pleas for assault charges, expands dangerous instrument definition to include vehicles/umbrellas, reducing defendant rights and increasing punitive sentencing85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 222: Relates to assault on a straphanger

This bill makes it a class C felony to cause someone to fall onto subway tracks through physical contact like shoving or kicking. It directly affects individuals who commit such assaults on subway platforms, increasing the legal penalty for these specific acts. The key provision defines "assault on a straphanger" as a new felony, adding it to the list of serious crimes punishable by up to 7.5 years in prison. The law applies to any physical contact resulting in a person falling onto subway tracks, aiming to protect passengers from intentional harm.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for subway assault by creating new felony, expanding criminalization with up to 7.5 years prison95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances subway safety by criminalizing assaults causing falls onto tracks, directly protecting public transit users and aligning with transportation safety indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime Public Transit

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5696: Relates to increasing penalties for assault, obstruction and harassment of an election officer

Includes within the class D felony of assault in the second degree, the intentional causing of physical injury to an election officer while such person is performing their assigned duties; amends aggravated harassment and obstruction of governmental administration to include election officers.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assault on election officers, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing, opposing reform efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5449: Relates to increasing the penalties for assault on police officers, peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians

Increases the penalties for assault on police officers, peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians causing physical injury or serious physical injury.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assaulting first responders, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4092: Establishes the crime of homicide by sale of an opiate controlled substance

This bill creates a new class A-1 felony offense for unlawfully selling or transporting an opiate controlled substance (as defined by public health law) that causes another person's death. It directly affects individuals who sell or transport opiates (like heroin or fentanyl) when such actions result in fatalities. The law includes a limited defense if the defendant jointly used the substance with the deceased for mutual consumption. The offense carries the highest felony penalty under New York law, with the bill named "Laree's Law" in recognition of opioid-related deaths.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new class A-1 felony for opiate sales causing death, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3282: Adds assaults against certain employees of state and local government agencies as an assault in the second degree

Establishes a person is guilty of assault in the second degree when such person intends to cause physical injury to an employee of New York state or any of its political subdivisions or of a public authority or a public benefit corporation while such employee is performing such employee's duties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by classifying assaults on public employees as second-degree assault, increasing penalties for such offenses.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects government employees from assault during work duties, directly enhancing workplace safety protections for specific labor groups.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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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

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