Criminal Justice Reform Act (CJRA) - OATH procedures for certain quality of life offenses.

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to OATH procedures for certain quality of life offenses

This bill would require that judges at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (“OATH”) offer the option to complete community service in lieu of paying civil penalties for “specified violations,” defined as those related to the possession of an open container of alcohol, public urination, littering, one provision of the noise code, and violating most parks rules. This bill would also allow these judges to dismiss these specified offenses in the interest of justice. This bill would require OATH to report on the adjudication of the specified violations. Finally, the bill requires OATH to conduct a yearly analysis of the penalties and judgments imposed on persons for specified violations, to ensure that OATH is not imposing such penalties and judgments in amounts that are disproportionate to the harm caused by the underlying offenses, and to recommend a possible limit on such penalties and judgments where appropriate.