What's happening
This bill, "Caroline's Law," makes it a misdemeanor for public servants to share images of crime victims outside official duties.
Why it matters
Raises accountability for public servants. By making it a misdemeanor for public servants to share images of crime victims outside official duties, the law directly addresses potential abuses of power and promotes greater respect for victims' privacy and dignity.
Sets clear boundaries on image use. The bill explicitly defines what it means to "broadcast," "disseminate," and "publish" images, reducing ambiguity and making it easier to enforce appropriate behavior by public servants.
Allows necessary exceptions for training. The legislation carves out an exception for the use of such images in official training, ensuring that agencies can continue to use real-life examples to improve emergency response and public safety practices without violating the law.
Strengthens public trust in emergency responders. By criminalizing the unauthorized sharing of sensitive images, the law aims to build trust between the public, crime victims, and those in official positions, potentially encouraging cooperation and reporting of crimes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Sharing Crime Victim Photos
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-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.
Ban Sharing Victim Images
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Diane J. Savino
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
989
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK, MALLIOTAKIS, ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to prohibiting the dissemination of an image of a crime victim by public servants
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Caroline's Law".
§ 2. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 250.70 to read as follows: § 250.70 Dissemination of an image of a crime victim.
1. A person is guilty of dissemination of an image of a crime victim where (a) the person is a public servant or is performing the duties of a public servant in responding to an emergency call; (b) while in the course of his or her official duties, records a still image or motion picture of a crime victim; and (c) intentionally broadcasts or publishes such images or motion pictures outside of the course of conduct of the public servant's official duties; except, that nothing herein shall be construed to impair or diminish the right to use such images or motion pictures for official training purposes.
2. For purposes of this section:
(a) "Broadcast" means electronically transmitting a visual image with the intent that it be viewed by a person.
(b) "Disseminate" means to give, provide, lend, deliver, mail, send, forward, transfer or transmit, electronically or otherwise to another person.
(c) "Publish" means to (i) post, present, display, exhibit, circulate, advertise or allow access, electronically or otherwise, so as to make an image or images available to the public; or (ii) disseminate with the intent that an image or images be posted, presented, displayed, exhib-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00255-01-9
A. 989 2
ited, circulated, advertised or made accessible, electronically or otherwise and to make such image or images available to the public.
Dissemination of an image of a crime victim is a class A misdemeanor.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.