Public News Service

Most state juvenile courts, including New York's, have jurisdiction over people younger than 18. The only states excluding 17-year-olds from juvenile court are Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY, US see juvenile incarceration decline due to reforms

New York and the nation are seeing youth incarceration decline. Despite claims crime, particularly youth crime, is rising, a new report by The …

The Gender Shades project revealed facial recognition performed poorest for darker-skinned women, and performed best for lighter-skinned men. (Adobe Stock)

A NY county creates facial recognition, privacy protections

Columbia County, New York, is implementing new facial recognition and privacy policies, following new upgrades to the county's surveillance cameras…

In response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement ending its free 500 phone minutes program, 40 people at New York's Batavia Processing Center went on hunger strikes, some for more than 24 hours. (Adobe Stock)

NY advocates denounce termination of free phone call program

New York human-rights groups want a program providing detained immigrants 500 free minutes of phone calls restored. Immigrations and Customs …

Filmmaker documents parents' last moments as they use medical aid in dying

A new documentary series looks at medical aid in dying through the eyes of terminally ill people advocating for a peaceful passing on their own terms…

Cineasta documenta a los padres mientras utilizan la ayuda médica para morir

Una nueva serie documental analiza la ayuda médica para morir a través de los ojos de personas con enfermedades terminales que abogan por un…

As of this writing, a petition to stop Nassau County's plan to deputize residents with gun permits has 2,080 signatures. (Adobe Stock)

Nassau County exec's plan to deputize armed citizens draws fire

Nassau County's executive wants to deputize residents who hold gun permits. County Executive Bruce Blakemen's plan involves training 100 residents …

Since the law was enacted in 1907, only 13 people have been charged in New York State with adultery. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill aims to repeal 1907 adultery law

Of New York's many outdated laws, the adultery law could go this year. A bill repealing the 1907 New York adultery law passed the Assembly and is now …

While robberies in the New York City Subway were down from 2022 to 2023, felony assaults rose from 556 in 2022 to 570 in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates denounce Gov. Hochul’s NYC subway safety plan

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's five-point New York City subway safety plan is being met with backlash from some community advocates. The plan calls …

In her 2024 State of the State address, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed allocating $20 million for district attorneys to gather evidence to prosecute abusers and have any firearms they own taken away. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NYC intimate-partner violence reaches new high

A new report finds New York City intimate-partner violence increased almost 30% between 2022 and 2023. The city's Domestic Violence Fatality Review …

An NYPD Monitor report tracked the work of officers during the 41st Precinct. It found only 41% of stops, 32% of frisks and 26% of searches were lawful. (Adobe Stock)

NY criminal-justice groups want increased police transparency

New York City community advocates want to reduce the number of stop-and-frisk encounters with police. The American Civil Liberties Union of New York …

New York criminal court judges decide whether to publish their decisions. A report finds of the judges who publish one decision a year, the average number of published decisions was two to three per year. (Adobe Stock)

NY groups want increased criminal court ruling transparency

Government accountability groups want increased transparency in New York criminal court decisions. This comes after a new report finds only 6% of …

A 2022 Compassion & Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying, professionally, and 49% said they support it personally. (Adobe Stock)

Medical aid-in-dying bill sees stronger support in NY Legislature

Legislation to allow medical aid in dying bill has been introduced in New York State every year since 2015, and its backers say 2024 could be the …

Una encuesta realizada en 2022 por Compassion & Choices revela que el 57% de las y los enfermeros apoyan la ayuda m�dica para morir, profesionalmente, y el 49% dijo que la apoyan personalmente. (Adobe Stock)

Proyecto de Ley de Asistencia Médica para Morir recibe fuerte apoyo en NY

La legislación para permitir la ayuda médica para morir se ha introducido en el estado de Nueva York cada año desde 2015, y sus …

Aparte de sus electores, el Partido Republicano del condado de Nassau ha pedido al representante George Santos que renuncie a su cargo. Inicialmente, esto se bas� en una investigaci�n del New York Times que revelaba que Santos hab�a fabricado partes de su curr�culum para ganar las elecciones. (Adobe Stock)

Rep. de Nueva York, George Santos, sobrevivió a votación de expulsión

La semana pasada, una votación para expulsar al representante de Nueva York, George Santos, de la Cámara de Representantes de Estados …

Aside from his constituents, the Nassau County Republican Party has asked Rep. George Santos to resign from office. This was initially based on a New York Times investigation revealing Santos had fabricated portions of his r�sum� to win election. (Adobe Stock)

NY Rep. George Santos survives expulsion vote. Now what?

A vote to expel U.S. New York Rep. George Santos, R-Queens, from the House failed last week to reach the needed two-thirds majority. But his troubles …

The National Organization for Women notes abusers might exploit a person's disability to further exert power and control over their victim. Life after a sexual assault for a disabled person can be challenging since trauma-informed services addressing sexual abuse and a person's disability are limited. (Adobe Stock)

Preventing Sexual Assault Against NY'ers with Developmental Disabilities

Advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are voicing concerns about cases of sexual assault against people with developmental disabilities…

La Organizaci�n Nacional para la Mujer se�ala que los abusadores pueden explotar la discapacidad de una persona para ejercer m�s poder y control sobre su v�ctima. La vida despu�s de una agresi�n sexual para una persona discapacitada puede ser un desaf�o, ya que los servicios informados sobre el trauma que abordan el abuso sexual y la discapacidad de una persona son limitados. (Adobe Stock)

Prevención de la agresión sexual contra neoyorquinos con discapacidades

Defensores de los neoyorquinos con discapacidades expresan su preocupación por los casos de agresión sexual contra personas con discapacidad…

In 2022, there were more than 32,000 reports of impostor scams by New Yorkers. The second-largest scam involved online shopping, with 18,000 reports in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

More NYers Taken In by Different Scams

New Yorkers and people across the nation are being victimized by a plethora of scams. The Federal Trade Commission reported impostor scams cost New …

Stop AAPI Hate finds more than 11,000 hate crimes against Asian Americans were reported from March 2020 to March 2022. (Adobe Stock)

NY 'SafeWalks' Program Keeps On Walking

A community effort meant to curb incidents of violence against Asian Americans in New York is undergoing some changes - but it will still be around…

A 2021 Marist poll finds a majority of registered New Yorkers voters across the state support medical aid in dying. (Adobe Stock)

NYS Legislature Reviews Medical Aid in Dying Bill

New York State's Legislature is reviewing a bill to approve medical aid in dying, which would apply to people suffering from a terminal illness who …

Una encuesta de Marist de 2021 encuentra que la mayor�a de los votantes neoyorquinos registrados en todo el estado apoyan la asistencia m�dica al morir. (Adobe Stock)

NYS Legislatura Revisa Asistencia Médica en Proyecto de Fin de Vida

La Legislatura del Estado de Nueva York está revisando un proyecto de ley para aprobar la asistencia médica al morir, que se aplicaría …

In New York and several other states, a person's inability to pay does not exempt them from owing certain court fees and surcharges, according to a report by the Fines and Fees Justice Center. (Adobe Stock)

NYS Bill Would End ‘Predatory’ Court Fees

The New York State Legislature is considering a bill to end court fees many consider predatory. Senate Bill 313 takes aim at numerous fines…

A Quinnipiac Poll finds a majority of Democrats and Independent voters, 88% and 55% respectively, feel criminal charges should disqualify former President Donald Trump from running for reelection. (Wikimedia Commons)

Attorney: Trump Charges Won’t Be Hard to Prove

Former President Donald Trump's indictment in New York last week is dividing both lawyers and voters. The latest poll numbers find Republican and …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, instability in a child's life because of a parent in prison can lead to

Report: Keep Incarcerated Parents and Kids Close

A recent report from the Prison Policy Initiative calls for better state laws to keep incarcerated parents close to their kids. It finds 12 states …

A report from AARP New York finds older New Yorkers living in rural areas are struggling to age in place because of how expensive modifications to homes would be. While they can utilize New York's Access to Home for Medicaid Recipients program, it only gets enough funding to handle $1 million in improvements, but has received requests totaling $12 million. (Andre Carrotflower/Wikimedia Commons)

NY Mayor Eager to Address Numerous Issues After Conference

A New York state mayor is eager to implement new initiatives he observed during the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference. …

Even before the U.S .Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, many abortions were being sought out of state. In 2020, 9% of abortions were obtained by people away from their state of residence. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Would Protect NY Abortion Providers

Proposed legislation in Albany would mean increased protections for women's healthcare providers. Brought forward by state Sen. Shelley Meyer - D-…

As part of New York City's new plan to address mentally ill homeless people, a special hotline will be staffed with clinicians to aid first responders as to whether a person presents as mentally ill. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Worried About NYC’s New Plan for Mentally Ill Homeless People

New York City Mayor Eric Adams' new plan for aiding the mentally ill is facing backlash for its effectiveness. Adams' plan allows police officers…

Some marijuana convictions, which keep people from getting a better job, joining the military, going back to school or getting a student loan, can be erased right now. (Adobe Stock)

Legal Clinic: How to Put a Pot Conviction Behind You

A special legal clinic is being held on September 24 in Buffalo about expunging certain marijuana convictions. The clinic, a collaboration between …

According to the Detention Watch Network, the U.S. detained nearly 250,000 immigrants in Fiscal Year 2021, in a network of about 200 facilities. (Gustavo Frazao/Adobe Stock)">

NY Law Regulates ‘Predatory’ Immigrant Bond Companies

A new law in New York State is expected to keep for-profit lenders from taking advantage of immigrants in detention facilities. Some people in the …

The Supreme Court's ruling in the case Vega v. Tekoh may have weakened the court's position on Miranda rights, but does not entirely invalidate those rights for people who are arrested. (Adobe Stock)

Vega v. Tekoh Ruling Weakens ‘Miranda’ Protections

Another important U.S. Supreme Court ruling this month has been overshadowed by the controversy about overturning abortion rights. Legal experts say …

Buffalo residents gathered at Macedonia Baptist Church on Sunday for a vigil in honor of the victims of the mass shooting at Tops supermarket on Saturday. (Darren McGee/Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul)

Buffalo Reeling After 10 Killed in Racist Attack at Supermarket

Buffalo residents are grieving after a shooter killed 10 community members on Saturday in an anti-Black attack, apparently fueled by racist white …

A letter sent to Congress by 240 groups in part calls for $69.5 million for increased access to overdose prevention, harm reduction, and syringe service programs through the CDC's Infectious Diseases and the Opioid Epidemic program. (Flickr)

As Overdoses Climb, NY Groups Seek Solutions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced another staggering new death count amid the pandemic: more than 100,000 fatal drug overdo…

Between 2010 and 2019, felony arrests of people younger than 18 were down 53%, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

Youthful-Offender Status Reform Gives New Yorkers a Chance at a Clean Slate

NEW YORK -- This month, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law advocates said gives young people who were caught up in the criminal-…

A new Sentencing Project report finds 6% of arrests for minors are for serious or violent offenses that might pose a threat to public safety, while 56% account for property crimes, drug crimes and violations of probation. (Adobe Stock)

‘Raise the Age’ Reforms Lead to No More Youths in NY Adult Prisons

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Rates of youth incarceration in adult jails and prison are down to zero since New York raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18…

The Nelson Mandela Rules, adopted by the United Nations, define isolated confinement of more than 15 days as torture. (karenfoleyphoto/Adobe Stock)

Cuomo Urged to Sign HALT Act

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Prison reform advocates rallied outside Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Manhattan offices and the executive mansion in Albany Sunday, to demand …

On January 2020, according to an ACLU report, 81% of ICE detainees were being held in privately owned or managed facilities. (Jason/Adobe Stock)

Executive Order Leaves Immigrants in Private Prisons

NEW YORK -- Immigrant advocates say President Joe Biden's executive order to end the use of private prisons is an important first step, but more …

Civil-rights advocates point out that police regularly confront social-justice demonstrations with militarized force. (saksuvan/Adobe Stock)

Civil Rights Groups Call for Investigation of Attack on Capitol

NEW YORK - Civil-rights advocates say the police response to a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump was in …

Since his release from prison, Pascal Shakoure Charpentier has started his own business and founded a nonprofit to mentor at-risk youth. (Photo: Free Shakoure Campaign)

ICE Holding U.S. Citizen for Deportation

NEW YORK -- A Queens man held in immigration detention for more than five months is being threatened with deportation but his lawyer said there's a bi…

report says solitary confinement in federal and state prisons has increased 500% due to the COVID pandemic. (boscorelli/Adobe Stock)">

Ending Solitary Confinement in NY Top Priority for Prison Reform

NEW YORK -- As New York moves to reform police practices, human rights advocates say the state needs to end the use of solitary confinement in …

Students rallying at City Hall in New York City call for more guidance counselors and fewer police in public schools. (Photo: Urban Youth Collaborative)

Youths Act to End School-to-Prison Pipeline

NEW YORK -- Students in New York City are calling for school safety to be taken out of the hands of the police department. They call it the school-…

Advocates say police violence against peaceful protesters has amplified calls for accountability. (Peter Kim/Adobe Stock)

State Lawmakers Take Up Police Reform

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York state lawmakers are expected to act on police reform bills this week, including a repeal of a law that shields police …

Families and advocates demand testing of all incarcerated people and clemency for those most at risk of COVID-19. (Walter Hergt/North Star Fund)

Vigils Demand Clemency for Those Threatened by COVID in Prisons

NEW YORK -- Formerly incarcerated people and the families and communities of people now in prison held a vigil outside Fishkill Correctional Facility …

Every year an estimated 218,000 youth are admitted to juvenile detention facilities nationwide. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Fewer Youths in Juvenile Detention Amid Pandemic

NEW YORK -- A recent multi-state survey of juvenile detention shows the COVID-19 pandemic is having a dramatic impact on the juvenile justice system…

A one-week delay in reducing jail populations could mean 18,000 lives lost to COVID-19, according to a new report. (Lightfield Studios/Adobe Stock)

Report: Jails Could Add 100K COVID-19 Deaths

NEW YORK -- A new epidemiological model released by the American Civil Liberties Union says unless jail populations are reduced immediately, the …

The lack of privacy during stay-at-home orders can make accessing domestic violence services more difficult for the people who need them. (sdecoret/Adobe Stock)

As COVID-19 Surges, So Does Domestic Violence

NEW YORK -- While stay-at-home measures appear to be slowing the spread of the new coronavirus, they are also leading to an increase in domestic …

Karl Taylor (L) was one of nearly 10,000 people in New York prisons who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. (Photo courtesy Julia Ramsay-Nobles)

Record Settlement for Death of Man in NYS Prison

NEW YORK -- Attorneys have reached a landmark $5 million settlement in a lawsuit over the 2015 death of a New York state prisoner at the hands of corr…

With mobile device forensic tools, police can decrypt and download all the information on a cell phone. (Saklakova/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Seeks NYPD Cell-Phone Search Records

NEW YORK - New Yorkers have a right to know how police are searching their cell phones, according to a lawsuit filed against the NYPD. The suit was …

Wage theft costs New York workers an estimated $1 billion a year. (bgton/Adobe Stock)

Veto of NY Wage-Theft Bill Draws Criticism

NEW YORK - Workers' advocates say Gov. Andrew Cuomo had plenty of time to request changes to a bill to help victims of wage theft, but chose to veto …

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NY: Criminal Justice