What's happening
This bill changes the rules for sealing youthful offender records, making exceptions for those with prior felony youthful offender adjudications or criminal convictions.
Why it matters
Narrows eligibility for record sealing. The bill means that if a young person has already been adjudicated a youthful offender for a felony or has any prior criminal conviction, they will not be able to have subsequent youthful offender records sealed. This limits second chances for youths with more serious or repeat offenses.
Potentially impacts employment and education opportunities. Since unsealed records can be accessed by schools, employers, or licensing agencies, those with prior serious offenses may face long-term barriers to jobs, college, or professional licenses.
Shifts focus to public safety and accountability. By making exceptions for youths with prior felonies or convictions, the bill places greater emphasis on public safety and accountability over rehabilitation and privacy for repeat or serious youthful offenders.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Seal Most Youth Court Records
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5066
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. O'DONNELL, WEPRIN, SEPULVEDA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to youthful offender procedure and accusatory instruments
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 720.15 of the criminal procedure law, as amended by chapter 774 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
3. [The provisions of subdivisions one and two of this section requiring or authorizing the accusatory instrument filed against a youth to be sealed, and the arraignment and all proceedings in the action to be conducted in private shall not apply in connection with a pending charge of committing any felony offense as defined in the penal law.] The provisions of subdivision one requiring the accusatory instrument filed against a youth to be sealed shall not apply where such youth has previously been adjudicated a youthful offender for a felony offense or convicted of a crime.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all accusatory instruments filed on or after such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09392-01-7
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.