Bill > A00825

This bill requires police departments and agencies to provide district attorneys' offices with direct access to their electronic record systems, including documents, audio files, and video files, for discovery purposes in criminal cases. The legislation aims to address challenges in the discovery process by allowing prosecutors to directly retrieve records, which will help reduce administrative burdens and procedural delays. Under the bill, each police department must provide login credentials to the district attorney's office - with the number of credentials based on the county's population - that allow viewing and downloading of materials related to criminal cases, but without the ability to edit or delete documents. For jurisdictions with over 100,000 residents, the computer systems must be accessible within the district attorney's office, while smaller jurisdictions must provide access at a convenient police precinct. The bill's intent is to improve the efficiency of criminal proceedings, ensure timely access to evidence, and allow police officers to focus more on maintaining public safety, ultimately promoting fair and merit-based case resolutions for both defendants and the public.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A825