Bill > A05293

This bill proposes significant changes to how young people who commit crimes are treated in the criminal justice system by expanding and modifying existing youthful offender provisions and creating a new "young adult status" category. The bill establishes a new legal framework for individuals between 19 and 26 years old, allowing courts more discretion in providing alternative sentencing and record-sealing options. Specifically, the bill creates a presumption that eligible young adults should receive a less punitive adjudication that does not result in a permanent criminal record, with exceptions for serious violent and sexual offenses. Courts will be required to consider factors like the circumstances of the crime, the individual's background, rehabilitation potential, and the potential impact of a criminal record when making determinations. The bill also provides an automatic and petition-based process for individuals to have prior convictions retroactively converted to youthful or young adult status, with considerations including time since conviction, rehabilitation efforts, and the potential impact on the individual's future opportunities. The legislation aims to reduce the long-term negative consequences of criminal convictions for young people by offering more nuanced approaches to justice that prioritize rehabilitation and future potential over punitive measures.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5293