Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5948: Establishes the peer advocacy and mentoring program

S 5948 creates a new peer advocacy and mentoring program within New York's Office of Children and Family Services. The program provides peer support, advocacy, and mentoring specifically for youth in residential care facilities, with priority for those placed under Family Court Act §353.3. It requires contracting with nonprofit organizations to hire peer advocates who are former youth in residential care (ages 16-30), trained in emotional/behavioral support, and who maintain confidentiality. The program connects youth to resources like attorneys for the child while ensuring advocates cannot disclose youth identities without consent. This bill establishes concrete policy changes to improve support for vulnerable youth in state care.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides peer mentoring for youth in residential care under Family Court Act §353.3, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in juvenile justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4617: Relates to protecting witnesses in criminal prosecutions from intimidation and threats

Relates to protecting witnesses in criminal prosecutions from intimidation and threats by permitting the court to withhold disclosure of names and other information if the court finds on the record that such witness is subject to potential intimidation, violence or threats.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects witnesses from intimidation in prosecutions, enhancing court integrity and participant safety per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1790: Relates to training requirements for attorneys appointed to represent a child in certain proceedings

This bill requires attorneys appointed to represent children in certain court proceedings to complete specific training. All such attorneys must receive six hours of initial training and ongoing training as determined by the court. The training must cover domestic violence dynamics, juvenile delinquency law, and how these issues relate to custody, visitation, and child support decisions. It also mandates that training programs and providers receive approval from both the Office of Court Administration and the State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires training on juvenile delinquency law for child attorneys, improving legal representation in juvenile justice cases.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Juvenile Justice

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8030: Requires principals convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses undergo a presentencing forensic psychological evaluation and a report be submitted to the court based on such evaluation and to attend treatment

Requires principals convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses undergo a presentencing forensic psychological evaluation and a report be submitted to the court based on such evaluation and to attend counseling, humane education, a rehabilitation program, or other such treatment based on such report.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates psychological evaluation and rehabilitation treatment for animal cruelty offenders, promoting rehabilitation over punishment to reduce recidivism within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 15, 2026

A 1081: Establishes civil liability for anyone subjecting another person to the deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities secured by law

Establishes civil liability for anyone subjecting another person to the deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities secured by law; establishes that the supreme court shall have jurisdiction over such matters and that the prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees as part of the costs; provides that the state waives sovereign immunity for violations of such law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes civil liability for rights deprivation, enhancing accountability and protecting civil rights in criminal justice contexts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1166: Requires the court to provide a range of dates for a person pleading not guilty to a traffic infraction to appear

This bill requires courts to provide at least three different date and time options for drivers who plead not guilty to traffic infractions. It applies directly to individuals charged with traffic violations who choose to contest the ticket rather than pay it. The key provision mandates that courts notify these drivers via mail with a range of available court dates, replacing a single fixed date. Additionally, the bill prevents courts from issuing arrest warrants for missing a court date until the driver has been notified of a new date via certified mail and fails to appear.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides court date flexibility to prevent unnecessary arrest warrants for minor traffic violations, aligning with reform goals of reducing system overreach.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8406: Relates to issuance of warrants for seizures of firearms in supreme court and family court

Bill A 8406 modifies procedures for seizing firearms in cases handled by Family Court and Supreme Court, particularly those involving orders of protection. It allows local criminal courts to issue firearm seizure orders when Family Court is not in session, upon request from a petitioner, police, or other public servant. The bill clarifies that courts *must* order immediate seizure and search if an individual subject to an order of protection willfully refuses to surrender a firearm, or *may* do so for other good cause. Additionally, it enables the party seeking protection to apply directly for such a seizure order, and updates terminology from "defendant" to "respondent" or "party" throughout the relevant statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates immediate firearm seizure in protection order cases, enhancing court enforcement to prevent violence and protect victims, aligning with criminal justice reform priorities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Policing

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signed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 7563: Relates to the removal of actions to certain courts in an adjoining county

This bill allows criminal cases in counties outside cities with over one million residents to be transferred to specialized mental health courts in neighboring counties. It requires the defendant's motion, consent from both district attorneys, and excludes family violence cases where the accused and victim are family members. The transfer cannot take effect for five days unless the receiving court agrees to accept the case earlier. This creates a formal process for connecting defendants with treatment-focused courts in adjacent jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates formal process to transfer eligible criminal cases to mental health courts, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through specialized diversion.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes formal process for transferring criminal defendants to mental health courts, expanding access to mental health treatment services as part of the healthcare system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

passed both · New York · Assembly Apr 29, 2026

A 4871: Establishes the chief administrator of the courts shall submit annually a report on the Drug Treatment Court Program during the preceding year

Establishes the chief administrator of the courts shall submit annually a report on the administration, function and effectiveness of the Drug Treatment Court Program during the preceding year.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates annual reporting on Drug Treatment Court effectiveness, promoting program evaluation and potential reform within criminal justice92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8689: Relates to unsealing unfounded child abuse and maltreatment reports in certain circumstances

Relates to unsealing unfounded child abuse and maltreatment reports upon a court order finding that justice requires the information in such reports is necessary for the determination of charges being investigated by a grand jury or for the purposes of prosecuting a violation of the penal law or otherwise necessary for the furtherance of justice.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill unseals unfounded child abuse reports for criminal proceedings, ensuring necessary information is available for justice, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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