What's happening
This bill creates the crime of persistent criminal contempt for repeat violations of orders of protection, establishing mandatory sentencing.
Why it matters
Targets repeat violators of orders of protection. by creating a new, specific crime ("persistent criminal contempt") for those who repeatedly disobey court-issued protective orders, signaling a focus on escalating consequences for ongoing, willful disobedience—often relevant in domestic violence or harassment contexts.
Mandates jail time for repeat offenses. Unlike many misdemeanors, this law requires a minimum of 60 days in jail for a conviction, either as a straight sentence or as part of a probation arrangement (with mandatory electronic monitoring), thus removing much judicial discretion for leniency.
Expands definitions and jurisdictional reach. The bill covers violations of both New York and out-of-state orders of protection, including those issued by tribal courts, which helps close loopholes that might let offenders avoid accountability by crossing jurisdictions.
Signals seriousness to courts and offenders. By making persistent criminal contempt a distinct, class A misdemeanor with mandatory penalties, the law aims to deter ongoing violations and enhance victim safety by ensuring repeated non-compliance is treated with increasing severity.
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Who cares
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Increase Penalties for Repeat Contempt
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5224
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 16, 2017
Introduced by Sen. STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the crime of persistent criminal contempt
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 60.15 to read as follows: § 60.15 Authorized dispositions; persistent criminal contempt.
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a person is sentenced upon a conviction of, or upon a youthful offender adjudication for, the crime of persistent criminal contempt as defined in section 215.47 of this chapter, the court shall sentence the defendant to either:
(a) a definite sentence of imprisonment, the term of which shall be at least sixty days and shall not exceed one year; or
(b) a sentence of probation and imprisonment in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of subdivision two of section 60.01 of this article applicable to misdemeanor convictions; provided, however, that the term of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this subdivision shall be sixty days. The court shall require, as a condition of any sentence of probation imposed pursuant to this paragraph, that the defendant submit to electronic monitoring in accordance with the provisions of subdivision four of section 65.10 of this title.
2. The relevant provisions of section 60.27 of this article relating to restitution and reparation, and the relevant provisions of section 60.35 of this article relating to the imposition of a mandatory surcharge, crime victim assistance fee and other applicable fees or surcharges, shall also apply to any sentence imposed pursuant to this section.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03485-01-7
S. 5224 2
§ 2. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 215.47 to read as follows: § 215.47 Persistent criminal contempt.
A person is guilty of persistent criminal contempt when he or she commits the crime of criminal contempt in the second degree as defined in subdivision three of section 215.50 of this article by violating that part of a duly served order of protection, or such order of which the defendant has actual knowledge because he or she was present in court when such order was issued, under sections two hundred forty and two hundred fifty-two of the domestic relations law, articles four, five, six and eight of the family court act or section 530.12 or 530.13 of the criminal procedure law, or an order of protection issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territorial or tribal jurisdiction and where the defendant has either:
(a) previously been convicted of the crime of: (i) aggravated criminal contempt as defined in section 215.52 of this article, (ii) criminal contempt in the first degree as defined in section 215.51 of this article, (iii) criminal contempt in the second degree as defined in subdivision three of section 215.50 of this article for violating that part of a duly served order of protection, or such order of which the defendant had actual knowledge because he or she was present in court when such order was issued, under sections two hundred forty and two hundred fifty-two of the domestic relations law, articles four, five, six and eight of the family court act or section 530.12 or 530.13 of the criminal procedure law, or an order of protection issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territorial or tribal jurisdiction, or (iv) persistent criminal contempt as defined by this section; or
(b) previously been found by any court of competent jurisdiction to have willfully or intentionally violated an order of protection or temporary order of protection in accordance with the applicable provisions of the judiciary law, domestic relations law or family court act.
Persistent criminal contempt is a class A misdemeanor.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to the crime of persistent criminal contempt
Summary of specific provisions
The penal law is amended by adding a new section 60.15 that establishes sentencing upon the conviction of persistent criminal contempt. The relevant provisions of section 60.27 of this article relating to restitution and reparation, and the relevant provisions of section 60.35 of this article relating to the imposition of a mandatory surcharge, crime victims assistance fee and other applicable fees or surcharges, shall also apply to any sentence imposed pursuant to this section. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 215.47 Persistent criminal contempt.
Persistent criminal contempt is a Class A misdemeanor.
Purpose of bill
Persistent criminal contempt is defined as violating a duly served order of protection, or such order of which the defendant has actual knowledge because he or she was present in court when such order was issued. This applies to family court or an order of protection issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territory or tribal jurisdiction. Applies when the defendant was previously convicted of the crime of aggravated criminal contempt for violating a duly served order of protection of which the defendant had knowledge or has previously been found to have willfully or intentionally violated an order of protection or temporary order of protection in accordance with the provisions of judiciary, domestic relations or family court law.
Justification
This legislation is prompted by a Queens incident in which the violator of a non-domestic violence case brutally mutilated a woman who had 9(nine) orders of protection (OP) against him. Incidents continue to occur.
In March of 2012, 24-year-old Kazan Raoul was shot in the head at her home after attempting to secure her fourth order of protection against her ex-boyfriend. New York must do something to address the issue of continuous violations of orders of protection for both domestic violence and non-domestic violence cases.
Present law does not sufficiently address the issue of repeat OP offenders for both domestic violence and non-domestic violence cases.
Prior legislative history
This legislation was previously introduced.
Fiscal implications
None to the state
Effective date
First day of November next succeeding the date on which 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.