What's happening
This bill repeals and replaces New York’s criminal discovery laws, requiring automatic, comprehensive evidence disclosure by prosecutors and reciprocal obligations for the defense.
Why it matters
Accelerates and expands access to evidence. By requiring prosecutors to automatically disclose a comprehensive set of evidence (including witness information, exculpatory facts, and police records) before or at arraignment, the bill aims to reduce trial delays and help defendants build their cases earlier.
Balances obligations between prosecution and defense. The law introduces reciprocal discovery, meaning defense attorneys must also share evidence and witness information with prosecutors after receiving the prosecution’s disclosures, potentially reducing “trial by ambush” and fostering a more even playing field.
Mandates modern evidence standards and preservation. The bill requires electronic recording of police interviews, prompt notification about 911 calls and police transmissions, and preservation of relevant evidence, aiming to prevent wrongful convictions and ensure accountability for lost or destroyed materials.
Enforces compliance and judicial oversight. Both sides must certify their discovery efforts in writing, and courts are given explicit powers to impose remedies or sanctions for noncompliance (including reopening hearings, granting mistrials, or dismissing charges), strengthening enforcement of fair trial standards.
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Who cares
District attorneys
Prosecutors would have to provide automatic discovery before or at arraignment, including witness information, grand jury transcripts and all exculpatory facts, and certify compliance in writing.
Criminal defendants and defense attorneys
Defendants would receive discovery without filing a motion, while the defense would face reciprocal disclosure duties after receiving the prosecution’s discovery package, subject to constitutional limits.
Police departments
Suspect interviews would need complete audio and video recordings showing both the questioner and suspect for statements to be admissible as substantive evidence, and officers would have to notify prosecutors of relevant recorded 911 calls and police radio transmissions.
Probation departments
Departments would have to provide both parties with records of convictions, complaints and indictments against prospective prosecution witnesses and defendants within five days of the prosecution’s disclosure of witness names and addresses.
Headline styles
Expand Criminal Discovery Rights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Expand Criminal Case Discovery
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Joseph Lentol
Full text
4 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5005
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to discovery requirements and procedures and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Article 240 of the criminal procedure law is REPEALED and a new article 240 is added to read as follows:
ARTICLE 240
AUTOMATIC DISCOVERY PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS Section 240.10 Automatic discovery.
240.20 Reciprocal discovery.
240.30 Depositions.
240.35 Non-testimonial evidence from the defendant.
240.40 Preservation of evidence.
240.43 Discretionary discovery by order of the court.
240.44 Certificates of compliance.
240.45 Continuing duty to disclose.
240.50 Protective orders.
240.60 Remedies and sanctions for noncompliance with this arti-
cle.
240.70 Lost or destroyed materials. § 240.10 Automatic discovery.
The prosecution is hereby required to provide discovery materials without a motion by defense before or at arraignment. The prosecution shall disclose to the defendant, and permit the defendant to discover, inspect, copy or photograph, all items and information when in possession, custody or control of the prosecution or persons under the prosecution's direction or control including but not limited to:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03405-01-7
S. 5005 2
1. Witness contact information and all written and recorded statements, and the substance of all oral statements. The probation department is required to provide the parties with a record of all convictions, complaints, and indictments against all of the prospective prosecution witnesses and all defendants within five days of the prosecution's disclosure of its witnesses' names and addresses to the defense.
2. All transcripts of the testimony of a person who has testified before any grand jury when the testimony relates to the subject matter of the case.
3. Identification information of all law enforcement personnel whom the prosecutor knows to have evidence or information relevant to any offense charged or to a potential defense thereto.
4. Statements of identification procedures.
5. All tangible objects and exhibits.
6. All defendants' statements.
7. All exculpatory facts in possession of the prosecution or of persons under the prosecution's direction or who investigated the case; not limited to "materially exculpatory" evidence.
8. All statements written or recorded which relate to the subject matter.
9. Intended expert opinion including all contact information, publications of intended witness, and reports prepared by the expert that pertain to the case.
10. Summary of all corporeal or non-corporeal or voice identification procedures.
11. Summary of all promises, rewards and inducements made to persons who may be called as witnesses.
12. Whether the prosecution has any evidence or information that may have been provided by a confidential or jailhouse informant.
13. Whether a search warrant has been executed and all information relating thereto.
14. Whether there has been any electronic surveillance. § 240.20 Reciprocal discovery.
The defense, subject to constitutional limitations, has reciprocal discovery obligations after it receives the prosecutor's discovery package. The defense must disclose all relevant material evidence within the defendant's possession including the names, addresses, dates of birth and statements by individuals whom the defense intends to call at trial, intended expert opinion evidence, photographs, tangible objects, exhibits, scientific test reports; and information regarding any inducements or promises to any witness. § 240.30 Depositions.
Any time after the filing of an accusatory instrument, the court in its discretion may, upon motion of any party, order the examination of any person except the defendant upon oral deposition if the party shows that the person's testimony is material to the case or necessary to adequately prepare a defense. § 240.35 Non-testimonial evidence from the defendant.
After the filing of an accusatory instrument, and subject to constitutional limitations, the court may, upon motion by the prosecution showing probable cause to believe the defendant has committed the crime, a clear indication that relevant material evidence will be found, and that the method used to secure it is safe and reliable, require a defendant to provide non-testimonial evidence, including to appear in a lineup and other evidence.
S. 5005 3
§ 240.40 Preservation of evidence.
Evidentiary materials are required to be maintained in their original condition and shall include but not be limited to:
1. Videotape of interviews at the police station or other facilities: No oral, written or sign language statement of a suspect made during an interview shall be admissible as substantive evidence against that person in any criminal proceeding unless an electronic recording, which must be focused upon both the questioner and the suspect throughout and must include not only audio but also visual recording, is made of the complete interview.
2. Telephone calls and police radio transmissions: When electronic recordings of 911 telephone calls or police radio transmissions are made in connection with an investigation, the arresting officer or lead detective must expeditiously notify the prosecution in writing of the existence of all recordings.
3. Material possessed by other government personnel or third parties: The prosecution is required to notify the defense whenever it receives information about the existence of any otherwise discoverable item that is not within the possession, custody or control of law enforcement, and the parties can move for a court order requiring the preservation of such items by a third party. § 240.43 Discretionary discovery by order of the court.
Upon the request by the defendant, to the court, if the defendant is unable without undue hardship to obtain the substantial equivalent by other means, the court may order the prosecution, or any individual, agency or other entity to make available for disclosure to the defendant any material of information which potentially relates to the subject matter of the case or is otherwise relevant. § 240.44 Certificates of compliance.
The prosecution and defense must certify in writing that they have exercised due diligence in complying with their discovery obligations and this certification must identify each item that was provided. § 240.45 Continuing duty to disclose.
If the prosecution or the defendant subsequently learns of additional material or information which it would have a duty to disclose pursuant to any provisions of this article, it shall immediately notify the other party and disclose the additional material or information as required by this chapter. § 240.50 Protective orders.
The court may order that discovery or inspection be denied, restricted, conditioned or deferred, or may grant discovery to the defendant on the condition that the material be available only to counsel for the defendant. § 240.60 Remedies and sanctions for noncompliance with this article.
A range of legal remedies are available for failing to comply with any discovery order issued or imposed. This includes but shall not be limited to the ability of the court to make a further order of discovery, grant a continuance, order that the hearing be reopened, order that a witness be called or recalled, order a mistrial or dismissal of some charges. § 240.70 Lost or destroyed materials.
When material or information is discoverable, but cannot be disclosed because it has been lost or destroyed, the court shall impose an appropriate remedy or sanction which is proportionate to the potential ways in which the lost or destroyed material could have been helpful to the party entitled to disclosure.
S. 5005 4
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law and shall apply to all arraignments commencing on or after such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to discovery requirements and procedures and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
Purpose
This bill relates to discovery requirements and procedures; repealer.
Summary of provisions
Article 240 of the Criminal Procedure Law is repealed and a new Article 240 is added. Automatic Discovery Procedure and Requirements.
Justification
New York's criminal discovery statutes are among the most antiquated and restrictive in the country, and must be fundamentally revised and modernized. Under New York's current criminal discovery statues, defendants are denied vitally important information, essential to make rational decisions about their pending cases. The limited information they receive is turned over so late that it is often impossible to intelligently investigate, to secure and use any potentially exculpatory evidence, to fairly weigh a guilty plea offer, or to develop a trial strategy.
This bill repeals Article 240 - Discovery - of New York's Criminal Procedure Law and replaces it with a new, comprehensive and internally consistent statute that provides for automatic discovery. Automatic discovery is, in part, the disclosure to the defense by the prosecutor of relevant information automatically and early on in the prosecutorial process instead of after the jury is seated when there is little or no time to investigate or develop an effective defense strategy. Automatic, early and broad discovery helps innocent and over-charged defendants fairly prepare far trial, and will encourage guilty defendants to plead guilty without needless and costly delay. Many other large states with cities ordinarily considered akin to New York - including California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey - have utilized broad criminal discovery provisions for years. It is time for New York to rectify this crucial defect in our criminal justice system.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Legislative history/senate
2013-14: S.4678/A.1642 (Lentol)- Referred to Codes 2015-16: S.3877/A.663 (Lentol)- Referred to Codes
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.