Bill to End Intoxication Defense in Sex Crimes | Albany News

New York lawmakers are poised to revive a long-stalled bill that would bar defendants from using a victim’s intoxication as a defense in sex crime cases, aiming to close a loophole that keeps cases from reaching trial. Though it passed the Senate, it never got a vote in the Assembly — but supporters are confident it’ll get traction next session. The bill doesn’t eliminate consent or guarantee convictions — juries still decide — but it ensures that when someone is incapacitated, their inability to consent can’t be dismissed as a legal excuse. Critics worry it might target consensual drinking encounters, but advocates stress the law requires the perpetrator to know or have reason to know the victim was unable to consent. With the new legislative session looming, advocates are calling on the public to contact their representatives to push this critical reform forward. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e783523e7fa9bbea