Increases the penalties for certain crimes involving tampering with a witness or intimidating a victim or witness; increases the penalty for tampering with a witness in the third degree and intimidating a victim or witness in the third degree to class D felonies; increases the penalty for tampering with a witness in the second degree and intimidating a victim or witness in the second degree to class C felonies.
Summary
S01751 would increase criminal penalties for offenses involving witness tampering and intimidation of victims or witnesses. Specifically, it reclassifies tampering with a witness in the third degree and intimidating a victim or witness in the third degree from class E felonies to class D felonies, and reclassifies the second-degree versions of those offenses from class D felonies to class C felonies. The bill also makes conforming changes to the Penal Law’s violent felony offense lists so these offenses are treated at higher violent felony levels for sentencing purposes.
The measure is aimed at strengthening deterrence and punishment for conduct that interferes with the criminal justice process, especially efforts to pressure, threaten, or retaliate against witnesses and victims. It would take effect immediately upon enactment and would amend existing Penal Law sections governing the offenses and the violent felony classification scheme.
Impact
The bill would amend Penal Law sections 215.11, 215.12, 215.15, and 215.16, increasing the felony class for witness tampering and victim/witness intimidation offenses, and would also amend Penal Law section 70.02 to add the upgraded offenses to the lists of class C and class D violent felony offenses. As a result, defendants convicted of these crimes would face more severe sentencing exposure, and the offenses would carry greater collateral consequences under New York’s violent felony sentencing framework.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and justice-system protection bill, with an emphasis on protecting witnesses and victims from coercion and retaliation. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, so there is no documented opposition or support in the supplied materials; the overall posture of the bill is punitive and enforcement-oriented.
Contention
The main policy issue is the severity of punishment: supporters would likely view the higher felony classifications as necessary to deter witness intimidation and preserve the integrity of prosecutions, while critics could argue that the bill escalates penalties without addressing underlying causes or may duplicate existing tools already available to prosecutors. No specific stakeholder objections or endorsements are included in the provided record, so any contention is limited to the general debate over tougher sentencing versus proportionality.
Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees.
Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees.
A bill for an act relating to controlled substances, including certain controlled substances schedules and precursor substances reporting requirements, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 25.) Effective date: 03/28/2025.
A bill for an act relating to controlled substances, including certain controlled substances schedules and precursor substances reporting requirements, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(See SF 305.)
A bill for an act relating to controlled substances, including certain controlled substances schedules and precursor substances reporting requirements, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 182.)