Establishes conviction integrity units; describes conviction integrity units; creates definitions; provides that a prosecution agency may create a conviction integrity unit to review convictions; provides that a conviction integrity unit may make recommendations for changes in convictions and sentences obtained by the prosecution agency; grants the prosecution agency discretion regarding the conviction integrity unit's recommendations; requires notice to the victim if a petition is filed by the prosecution agency; gives the superior court the discretion to provide relief.
This bill amends sentencing rules to allow victims to make statements at sentencing for specific misdemeanor cases. It directly affects victims of misdemeanors involving serious physical injury caused by vehicle-related offenses (like reckless driving) that were initially charged as felonies. The key provision requires courts to permit victim statements if requested at least 10 days before sentencing, and to notify defendants of this intent at least 7 days prior. If defendants don't receive timely notice, they may request a sentencing delay. The bill does not change sentencing outcomes but adds a procedural step for victim input in these defined cases.
Requires the prosecution to disclose to defense counsel certain information relating to jailhouse informants; requires prosecutors to notify victims of the informant's crimes if the prosecutor has offered the informant a benefit in exchange for testimony or other cooperation.
Requires the notice to crime victims of case disposition to inform the victim of the right to attend interviews between the board of parole and the incarcerated individual in cases where the final disposition includes a felony defined in article one hundred twenty-five of the penal law that results in the commitment of the defendant to the custody of the department of corrections and community supervision for an indeterminate sentence; requires the board of parole to review victim impact statements, failure to review such statements shall make a hearing by the board of parole invalid.
Establishes a bill of rights for family members and visitors of incarcerated individuals including the establishment of an independent office for visitation oversight to monitor implementation, receive complaints, and ensure compliance.
Relates to incarcerated individuals wages; provides that incarcerated individuals shall be compensated at a base rate of $1.20 to $10 per day and shall be given biannual raises for adequate performance; provides that incarcerated individuals not participating in a work or program assignment due to age or frailty shall be paid $1.00 per day, adjusted every 5 years for cost of living.
Senate Resolution R1237 requires an itemized list of grantees for state funds allocated to community safety and restorative justice programs during the 2024-25 fiscal year. It directly affects local governments, non-profit organizations, and community-based providers offering services like survivor support for sexual assault/domestic violence, gun violence prevention, legal aid, and alternatives to incarceration. The bill mandates that any allocation plan must be approved by the Senate President and Budget Director, then passed as a Senate resolution with a majority vote. This ensures transparency in distributing funds for programs including re-entry initiatives, community supervision, and violence reduction strategies.
This bill creates a legal process for people wrongfully convicted and imprisoned to seek state compensation. To qualify, claimants must prove innocence (through DNA evidence, a pardon for innocence, or a court-ordered conviction reversal on specific grounds), show they didn't cause their own conviction, and demonstrate they served time. Compensation must be at least $1 million per year of wrongful incarceration, plus reasonable attorney fees. Claims based on prior pardons or dismissals must be filed within two years.
Establishes the minimum period of time that forensic samples should be retained by investigating authorities; creates the state commission for the integrity of the criminal justice system, as an independent agency, and provides for such commission's powers and duties; relates to special fictitious name indictments; relates to requests for certain DNA test comparisons; relates to forensic DNA testing; relates to claims for unjust conviction and imprisonment; relates to DNA testing, data collection and record keeping; relates to DNA testing in felony cases.
Requires the disclosure of video footage related to the death of an incarcerated individual involving a correctional officer to the attorney general's office of special investigation.
