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Governor Kathy Hochul January 14 announced proposals to drive down crime and bolster the criminal justice system to keep New Yorkers safe as part of her 2025 State of the State. Governor Hochul proposes streamlining the discovery process by amending reforms passed in 2019, adding additional resources to fight transnational criminal networks, and fighting sexual assault and domestic violence.
“Public safety is my top priority, and I’ll always do whatever it takes to keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “While crime statistics show significant decreases in gun violence, there’s more work to do to keep all New Yorkers safe. That’s why we’re going to fix the discovery laws, crack down on transnational gangs and support survivors of sexual assault.”
Streamlining New York’s Discovery Process
Right-Size the Connection Between the Discovery Law and the Speedy Trial Act To Promote True Justice
New York’s discovery reform introduced essential changes to enhance fairness in criminal cases but led to unintended consequences.
Currently, if a prosecutor’s discovery compliance is later challenged successfully, the time between certification and challenge is retroactively counted against the prosecution, often resulting in dismissals unrelated to the merits of the case or the legality of the investigation. This loophole inadvertently incentivizes delaying discovery challenges, in order to have cases easily thrown out on technicalities. To address this, Governor Hochul proposes changes to eliminate the incentive to delay discovery challenges and to ensure that a discovery error is addressed in a manner proportional to the discovery error itself rather than as a technical mechanism to have an entire case dismissed. These changes will promote timely review that will improve case processing times, reduce delays that keep individuals incarcerated pre-trial, and prevent dismissals based on technicalities that can prohibit justice to victims and the people of the State of New York.
Streamlining and Clarifying Discovery Requirements
Governor Hochul also proposes a series of improvements to streamline the State’s discovery process. First, the Governor proposes clarifying that information requiring subpoenas in order to obtain is not necessary for certifying discovery compliance and that prosecutors may certify once they have disclosed all relevant materials in their actual possession.
Next, Governor Hochul proposes expanding the scope of automatic redaction to include sensitive details such as witnesses’ physical addresses and personal data unrelated to the case, eliminating the need to engage in lengthy litigation to redact such material. Governor Hochul also proposes reducing the requirement for providing 48-hour notice before a defendant’s statements can be presented to a grand jury to 24 hours. This will help relieve the burden of counties that lack five-day grand juries and which, during extended weekends, do not have 48 hours before a case needs to be presented to a grand jury. These changes will ensure procedural fairness, streamline case processing and safeguard sensitive information.
Fighting Transnational Criminal Networks
Strengthening the State’s Response to Transnational Criminal Networks
New York faces increasing challenges from transnational criminal networks operating along the northern border, including elevated levels of drug, weapon, and currency seizures. To address these growing threats, Governor Hochul will strengthen enforcement efforts by increasing the number of State Police and counterterrorism investigators at the northern border and deploying sophisticated technology to support their operations. Through these efforts and the strengthened Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking, Governor Hochul will build investigations to target and hold accountable those working on behalf of these criminal organizations.
Combatting Sexual Assault and Domestic VIolence
Supporting Survivors of Sexual Assault, Gender-Based Violence and Sex Trafficking
Supporting survivors remains a top priority for Governor Hochul, as she continues to lead efforts to address sexual assault, domestic violence, gender-based violence and sex trafficking. Through historic investments and bold policy initiatives, New York is setting a national standard for protecting survivors and holding offenders accountable.
Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has significantly strengthened its response to sexual assault and domestic violence. Last year, the state invested $35 million to enhance public safety efforts statewide and $5 million in direct aid for survivors and their children. These investments are complemented by measures such as the creation of a statewide rape kit tracking system and a first-in-the-nation sexual assault evidence storage facility, ensuring survivors have access to justice and resources.
Governor Hochul has enacted bold initiatives to address gender-based violence, including the Adult Survivors Act and expanded protections against the misuse of intimate images. These efforts build on New York’s legacy of advancing survivor protections and underscore the Governor’s commitment to fostering safe and equitable communities for all.
The state is taking proactive steps to combat sex trafficking and support survivors. New York has strengthened anti-trafficking laws and programs while increasing access to services that help survivors rebuild their lives. These initiatives reflect the Governor’s dedication to disrupting trafficking networks and ensuring survivors receive the support they need.
This year, Governor Hochul will pursue a comprehensive agenda to further expand New York’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, gender-based violence and sex trafficking, continuing her unwavering commitment to supporting survivors.
Requiring Access to Trained Forensic Medical Examiners at All Hospitals
Every victim of sexual violence deserves the highest standard of care upon arriving at a hospital. To ensure this, Governor Hochul will propose legislation mandating that all hospitals provide access to trained medical forensic examiners for sexual assault survivors, including pediatric survivors. Access to these trained medical professionals is essential to both usher survivors through an emotionally fraught process and to collect the evidence necessary to bring swift justice to perpetrators. One study of 100 sexual assault cases that moved forward to prosecution found that almost 75 percent of cases with a DNA match, regularly collected during hospital forensic examinations, led to a guilty plea or trial compared to less than one in three cases without a lab report.
Governor Hochul will also contribute State funding to unlock federal support for raising the reimbursement rates to healthcare providers for the cost of forensic exams and courses of anti-HIV drug treatment.
Combined with expanded enforcement by the Department of Health, and investments in technical assistance as well as expanded forensic examiner training offerings, this measure will raise the standard of care, improve the likelihood of justice in sexual assault cases, and position New York as a national leader in addressing sexual violence.
Doubling Funding for Rape Crisis Programs
Many areas in New York lack adequate access to rape crisis services, with nine counties having no certified rape crisis program within the county bounds. To address these disparities and bolster existing programs, Governor Hochul will implement the largest funding increase in the program’s history. This investment will enhance hospital- and community-based services, expand geographical coverage, ensure support for culturally responsive programs and improve access to advocates for survivors of sexual assault.
Expanding Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence
To combat sexual violence comprehensively, Governor Hochul will propose expanding the Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) initiative into a new program called STRIVE+. Initially launched in 2024 to address intimate partner and domestic violence, STRIVE+ will now include non-domestic sexual assaults and rapes. Administered by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), funding will support district attorneys, law enforcement, probation departments and community-based providers statewide. New York City and participating counties will develop comprehensive plans using evidence-based strategies to reduce sexual violence and hold offenders accountable. This expansion aims to provide broader support for survivors while implementing effective measures to combat sexual assault.
Dispossessing Domestic Violence Abusers of Firearms
New York law currently lacks a specific crime that fully aligns with federal requirements for reporting domestic violence convictions to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Criminal Background Checks System (NICS), allowing some abusers to evade firearm restrictions. To address this, a new crime of “Domestic Violence” will be created under the penal law, which can be charged concurrently with existing offenses, ensuring all elements necessary for federal reporting are automatically met. This change streamlines the process, eliminates factual inquiries, and ensures convicted abusers are entered into NICS, preventing them from accessing firearms.
Creating Safer Workplaces for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence impacts victims’ safety and productivity in the workplace, yet current protections under Executive Order 17 are limited to State employees and are not codified in law, leaving them vulnerable to future erosion. Since its issuance, Executive Order 17 has resulted in the establishment of nation-leading policies in State agencies, training of over 80,000 State employees, and assistance in over 100 cases, but private sector employees lack similar workplace protections. To address this, Governor Hochul will propose legislation to codify this policy into state law and require all state vendors to affirm they have a gender-based violence and workplace policy before receiving contracts. These measures aim to expand protections to private sector employees, improve workplace safety and ensure financial stability for victims and their coworkers.
Improving Access to Public Assistance for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
Survivors of domestic and gender-based violence can face barriers when applying for public assistance, as certain eligibility requirements, like collecting child support, can increase their risk of harm. While the law allows for waivers for survivors of domestic violence, the existing screening process relies on districts assessing survivors’ credibility, an approach that is not trauma-informed and which may discourage disclosures, leaving survivors without critical protections. To address this, Governor Hochul will propose legislation to eliminate the credibility assessment, allowing survivors to self-attest that complying with eligibility rules would endanger them or their children. Additionally, a more comprehensive screening tool will be developed to better identify safety concerns and connect survivors to necessary services. These changes aim to reduce stigma, improve access to public assistance and provide safer pathways for survivors to achieve financial independence and stability.
Eliminating the Statute of Limitations for Sex Trafficking Cases
Despite the fact that trafficking survivors may delay disclosure to law enforcement for many of the same reasons that rape survivors would, and that sometimes it takes years for trafficking survivors to even know that they were trafficked, the statues of limitation for trafficking crimes were not included in the law change that extended and eliminated statutes of limitation for sex crimes. Instead, New York State trafficking crimes are subject to the same five-year statute of limitation as other felonies.
Governor Hochul will propose legislation to provide sex trafficking survivors with the same protections as survivors of other B Felony sex offenses by removing the criminal statute of limitations for sex trafficking and sex trafficking of a child.
Adding the Classification of Intellectual Disability as a Means of Trafficking
A national school-based study showed that children in special education services are twice as likely to be trafficked, and those with cognitive disabilities are five times more at risk compared to other students. Governor Hochul proposes adding language to the penal law to classify coercing someone with an intellectual disability into prostitution activity as a form of trafficking.
Cracking Down on Drugged Driving
Strengthening Drugged Driving Laws
Drugged driving causes more fatalities statewide than drunk driving, yet enforcement remains difficult due to outdated laws and limited resources. Governor Hochul will propose legislation to close critical loopholes, such as expanding the universe of prosecutable substances, authorizing penalties for refusal to participate in testing, enabling prompt license suspensions for drugged driving, and broadening the circumstances under which chemical tests can be compelled. The plan also includes increasing training for law enforcement and exploring the use of improved roadside screening and toxicology tools to enhance enforcement capabilities. These measures will equip law enforcement to better address the growing issue of drug-impaired driving.
Expanding Law Enforcement Technology and Coordinating Capacity
Expanding Support for Intelligence Sharing and Agency Coordination
The Crime Analysis Centers (CACs) are vital to crime prevention and public safety in New York, providing significant tools like hot-spot analysis and real-time investigative support to law enforcement statewide. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, CAC funding has tripled, and the network has grown to 11 centers across the state. Additionally, the statewide Joint Security Operations Center (JSOC) was established as a 24/7 cybersecurity hub to coordinate responses to cyber threats. Building on these successes, Governor Hochul will propose the creation of the New York State Crime Analysis and Joint Special Operations Command Headquarters (CA-JSOC) — doubling the State investment. This first-in-the-nation headquarters will unite over 100 local, state and federal agencies to track crime trends, share intelligence and coordinate responses in real time, further enhancing public safety across New York State.
Securing Additional Funding for Law Enforcement Technology
Last year, Governor Hochul provided record funding for the Law Enforcement Technology (LETECH) grants to support agencies statewide in acquiring critical technologies and equipment to enhance crime prevention and community engagement. To ensure law enforcement partners continue to have access to the tools needed to protect New Yorkers, Governor Hochul will secure additional funding for future rounds of LETECH grants. This investment will strengthen public safety and improve trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Tackling Root Causes of Crime
Supporting Safe and Vibrant Communities
Governor Hochul will address rising crime rates in the Bronx through the Governor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety, led by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. This initiative will take a holistic approach to public safety by addressing root causes of crime, such as youth development and community opportunities. A key component will support the scaling of community-led violence prevention initiatives to provide pro-social activities, fostering safer and healthier neighborhoods.
Reducing Reoffending Through Innovative Justice Initiatives
Repeat offenses contribute significantly to overall crime rates in New York, with reoffending rates as high as 80 percent for individuals released from prison. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, programs like Jails to Jobs have reduced recidivism by connecting previously incarcerated individuals to education and job opportunities. Building on this progress, Governor Hochul will expand training in green energy and sustainable industries and enhance positive incentive programs like merit time to improve reentry success.
