What's happening
This bill allows victim impact statements in criminal cases to also include statements from neighborhood watch groups if the court approves.
Why it matters
Broadens the perspective on crime impact. By permitting neighborhood watch groups to submit victim impact statements (with court approval), the bill recognizes that crimes affect not just individuals, but entire communities, and allows those collective voices to be considered during sentencing.
Gives communities a formal voice in court. This change could empower local residents and organized groups to communicate the broader safety concerns and social harm caused by criminal behavior, potentially influencing sentencing and restitution decisions.
May affect sentencing outcomes. Judges and probation officers would have access to more diverse input regarding the impact of a crime, which could lead to stronger or more nuanced recommendations on sentencing and restitution—especially in cases where community disruption is significant.
Raises questions about fairness and scope. Allowing statements from neighborhood watch groups could introduce new viewpoints, but may also raise concerns about objectivity, representation, and whether such statements could unduly sway judicial decisions compared to direct victim testimony.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Neighborhood Watch Speak
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in codes
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2769
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. KOLB, GIGLIO, BARCLAY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to victim impact statements
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 of section 390.30 of the criminal procedure law, as amended by chapter 618 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The report shall also contain a victim impact statement, unless it appears that such information would be of no relevance to the recommendation or court disposition, which shall include an analysis of the victim's version of the offense, the extent of injury or economic loss and the actual out-of-pocket loss to the victim and the views of the victim relating to disposition including the amount of restitution and reparation sought by the victim after the victim has been informed of the right to seek restitution and reparation, subject to the availability of such information. In the case of a homicide or where the victim is unable to assist in the preparation of the victim impact statement, the information may be acquired from the victim's family. Such victim impact statement may also be acquired from neighborhood watch groups where the court deems such statements to be an appropriate inclusion in the report. The victim impact statement shall be made available to the victim by the prosecutor pursuant to subdivision two of section 390.50 of this article. Nothing contained in this section shall be interpreted to require that a victim supply information for the preparation of this report.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03201-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.