Creates the crime of tampering with electronic monitoring equipment; makes such crime a class E felony.
Summary
This bill creates a new crime, “tampering with electronic monitoring equipment,” and classifies it as a class E felony. The offense would apply when a person, without legal right or reasonable belief of such right, tampers with, damages, or alters electronic monitoring equipment in an effort to interfere with transmitted signals, impulses, or data. The bill defines electronic monitoring equipment as devices used as a condition of certain securing orders under the criminal procedure law or as part of specified conditions of release or supervision under the penal law.
In addition to creating the new felony offense, the bill amends the criminal procedure law to add this new crime to the list of offenses that can affect pretrial release and bail determinations under sections 510.10, 530.20, and 530.40. In practical terms, a defendant charged with tampering with electronic monitoring equipment would be treated as facing a bail-eligible or detention-relevant offense under those provisions, alongside other listed crimes such as certain violent felonies, firearm offenses, and weapon-related offenses. The bill takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would amend the Penal Law by adding section 145.75 and would also revise multiple Criminal Procedure Law provisions governing release and bail to include tampering with electronic monitoring equipment as a qualifying offense. This would expand the range of charges that can support pretrial detention or conditions of release in cases involving defendants who allegedly interfere with court-ordered monitoring devices. The affected parties include criminal defendants subject to electronic monitoring, prosecutors, courts, and pretrial services agencies responsible for enforcing release conditions.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript and no recorded votes, so there is no documented debate or formal vote history to indicate support or opposition. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and court-enforcement tool aimed at preventing defendants from defeating monitoring conditions. The absence of recorded discussion means the overall sentiment cannot be measured from the provided materials beyond the bill’s apparent enforcement-oriented purpose.
Contention
The main policy issue raised by the bill is whether tampering with monitoring equipment should be treated as a standalone felony and whether it should also be added to the list of offenses affecting bail and pretrial release. Supporters would likely view the measure as necessary to preserve the integrity of electronic monitoring and court-ordered supervision, while critics could argue that it expands criminal liability and pretrial detention exposure for conduct that may already be punishable under other statutes. No specific objections or named opponents appear in the provided materials.