Criminal Justice (Civil Rights)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4100: Provides for the re-enfranchisement of voters with felony convictions; repealer

This bill (S 4100) removes a disqualification for voting based on felony conviction from New York's election law. It repeals specific sections that previously canceled voter registrations for people convicted of felonies, directly affecting individuals with past felony convictions who wish to vote. The key change eliminates language in the election law that barred voting rights due to felony convictions, allowing these voters to regain eligibility without additional steps. This procedural bill focuses on updating the law to remove the disqualification, not on creating new voting rights.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for felons, a core criminal justice reform measure protecting civil rights and promoting reintegration, directly advancing rehabilitation and voting access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1990: Establishes the "Malcolm X unsolved civil rights crime act of 2025"

Establishes the "Malcom X unsolved civil rights crime act"; requires the assistant attorney of the civil rights bureau to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred not later than December thirty-first, nineteen seventy-nine, and resulted in a death.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates investigation of historical civil rights violations, protecting civil rights per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1350: Prohibits law enforcement officers from using bias-based profiling

Prohibits police officers from using bias-based profiling; requires that a procedure be established for the taking and review of complaints against police officers for bias-based profiling; allows an action for injunctive relief and/or damages to be brought against a law enforcement agency, any agent of a law enforcement agency and the supervisor of an agent.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits bias-based profiling by police, requiring complaint procedures and legal remedies, enhancing accountability and protecting civil rights in law enforcement.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits bias-based profiling by police, protecting immigrants from discriminatory enforcement practices common in immigration contexts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7282: Ends involuntary servitude in correctional facilities in New York state

This bill, S 7282 ("No Slavery in New York Act"), prohibits involuntary servitude and forced labor for all incarcerated individuals in New York State correctional facilities, including those convicted of crimes. It amends the Civil Rights Law to explicitly ban slavery, involuntary servitude, and forced labor in the state, and adds a new provision to the Correction Law banning any labor compelled by force, adverse actions, or threats. The law takes effect immediately and directly affects all people incarcerated in state and local correctional facilities across New York.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans forced labor in NY prisons, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting incarcerated individuals' civil rights and explicitly prohibiting involuntary servitude.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans forced labor for incarcerated individuals, protecting against exploitation in correctional workplaces, directly aligns with labor rights protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Human Trafficking

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5187: Designates offenses against law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel as hate crimes

Bill A 5187 expands the definition of hate crimes to include offenses committed against law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. It amends existing law to classify an offense as a hate crime if the perpetrator intentionally targets an individual based on their actual or perceived employment in these roles. This means that crimes motivated by bias against these public safety workers could be prosecuted as hate crimes. The bill also provides specific definitions for who qualifies as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services personnel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hate crime protections for law enforcement, increasing penalties for bias-motivated attacks against public safety workers, strengthening accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3918: Relates to the modification of the procedure for interviews of parole applicants and to the disclosure of parole applicant records

S 3918 modifies New York State's parole process by requiring a 3-month advance in-person interview (recorded audio-visually) for parole applicants, replacing a prior one-month timeline. It mandates that applicants review their full parole file one month before hearings and requires the parole board to provide detailed, written reasons for denials - including specific requirements for reconsideration - within 24 months. The bill also standardizes disclosure of mental health records (unless harm is likely) and ensures victims receive certain information upon request, while clarifying conditions for release like voting rights restoration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances parole transparency and applicant rights via extended interview timelines, mandatory file review, and detailed denial reasons - aligning with criminal justice reform goals like due process and reduced recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1159: Designates offenses against law enforcement officers as hate crimes and makes graffiti a hate crime

This bill amends New York's penal law to expand hate crime designations. It adds "actual or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer" as a protected characteristic, meaning attacks against police officers motivated by bias can now be classified as hate crimes. It also explicitly includes "making graffiti" (under section 145.60) as a specified offense that qualifies as a hate crime when committed due to bias against a protected characteristic. This change affects individuals who commit certain offenses (like assault or graffiti) with bias targeting law enforcement or other protected traits, potentially increasing penalties for those acts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hate crime protections to include law enforcement officers and bias-motivated graffiti, strengthening legal safeguards against bias-based violence per civil rights indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5108: Establishes the housing for an equitable reentry and opportunity (HERO) act

Establishes the housing for an equitable reentry and opportunity (HERO) act to prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of criminal legal system involvement; defines criminal legal system involvement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits housing discrimination based on criminal legal system involvement, directly reducing reentry barriers and advancing rehabilitation - core criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits housing discrimination based on criminal justice involvement, directly advancing tenant protections as defined in topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Probation & Parole Tenant Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1220: Makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice for prospective employers to make certain inquiries relating to criminal convictions

Establishes it shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any prospective employer to make an inquiry about, or to act upon adversely to the individual involved based upon, any criminal conviction of such individual unless such employer first makes a conditional offer of employment to such individual.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents employment discrimination based on criminal records, aiding reentry and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents employment discrimination based on criminal history, protecting workers' rights in hiring processes95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Employment Discrimination

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3813: Directs the division of criminal justice services to study, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning instances of police brutality in the city of Rochester

Directs the division of criminal justice services to study, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning instances of police brutality in the city of Rochester.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill directs study of police brutality in Rochester, aligning with enhancing police accountability and criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

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