Substantive Criminal Justice Legislation

There were many changes in criminal justice legislation in 2006. Among the major changes were the expansion of the State’s DNA databank to include all felonies, passage of “Cynthia’s Law,” which is aimed at those who injure children under five by violent shaking or similar abuse, a substantial increase in the penalty for possession of a loaded firearm, and comprehensive legislation concerning drunk drivers. Other new laws were also passed in such diverse areas as predatory sexual assault, incest, and computer crime.

Working with the New York State District Attorneys Association, and with the help of our local legislators, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office has been in the forefront of the effort to keep the law of the State and the City flexible and responsive to the ever-changing patterns of criminal activity. This year we will continue to support various legislative proposals in the following areas:

• Redefining “Depraved Indifference” Murder
• Tougher Misdemeanor Laws
• Further expansion of the DNA database to all crimes
• Forfeiture Law Reform
• Giving Rehabilitated Offenders a “Second Chance”
• Curing a defect in the statutes penalizing the dissemination of indecent material to minors
• Penalizing the Use of Computers to Harass People by “Cyberstalking”
• Requiring the Clergy to Report Sexual Abuse of Children
• Allowing Documents to be More Easily Introduced as Grand Jury Evidence