New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. Penal Law § 60.12 (2026)

Authorized disposition; alternative sentence; domestic violence cases

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 60.12 Authorized disposition; alternative sentence; domestic violence
          cases.
  1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, where a court is
imposing sentence upon a person pursuant to section 70.00, 70.02, 70.06
or subdivision two or three of section 70.71 of this title, other than
for an offense defined in section 125.26, 125.27, subdivision five of
section 125.25, or article 490 of this chapter, or for an offense which
would require such person to register as a sex offender pursuant to
article six-C of the correction law, an attempt or conspiracy to commit
any such offense, and is authorized or required pursuant to sections
70.00, 70.02, 70.06 or subdivision two or three of section 70.71 of this
title to impose a sentence of imprisonment, the court, upon a
determination following a hearing that (a) at the time of the instant
offense, the defendant was a victim of domestic violence subjected to
substantial physical, sexual or psychological abuse inflicted by a
member of the same family or household as the defendant as such term is
defined in subdivision one of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure
law; (b) such abuse was a significant contributing factor to the
defendant's criminal behavior; (c) having regard for the nature and
circumstances of the crime and the history, character and condition of
the defendant, that a sentence of imprisonment pursuant to section
70.00, 70.02, 70.06 or subdivision two or three of section 70.71 of this
title would be unduly harsh may instead impose a sentence in accordance
with this section.
  A court may determine that such abuse constitutes a significant
contributing factor pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision
regardless of whether the defendant raised a defense pursuant to article
thirty-five, article forty, or subdivision one of section 125.25 of this
chapter.
  At the hearing to determine whether the defendant should be sentenced
pursuant to this section, the court shall consider oral and written
arguments, take testimony from witnesses offered by either party, and
consider relevant evidence to assist in making its determination.
Reliable hearsay shall be admissible at such hearings.
  2. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence
pursuant to section 70.02 of this title, the court may impose a definite
sentence of imprisonment of one year or less, or probation in accordance
with the provisions of section 65.00 of this title, or may fix a
determinate term of imprisonment as follows:
  (a) For a class B felony, the term must be at least one year and must
not exceed five years;
  (b) For a class C felony, the term must be at least one year and must
not exceed three and one-half years;
  (c) For a class D felony, the term must be at least one year and must
not exceed two years; and
  (d) For a class E felony, the term must be one year and must not
exceed one and one-half years.
  3. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for
a class A felony offense pursuant to section 70.00 of this title, the
court may fix a determinate term of imprisonment of at least five years
and not to exceed fifteen years.
  4. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for
a class A felony offense pursuant to subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b)
of subdivision two of section 70.71 of this title, the court may fix a
determinate term of imprisonment of at least five years and not to
exceed eight years.
  5. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for
a class A felony offense pursuant to subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b)
of subdivision three of section 70.71 of this title, the court may fix a
determinate term of imprisonment of at least five years and not to
exceed twelve years.
  6. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for
a class A felony offense pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b)
of subdivision two of section 70.71 of this title, the court may fix a
determinate term of imprisonment of at least one year and not to exceed
three years.
  7. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for
a class A felony offense pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b)
of subdivision three of section 70.71 of this title, the court may fix a
determinate term of imprisonment of at least three years and not to
exceed six years.
  8. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence
pursuant to subdivision six of section 70.06 of this title, the court
may fix a term of imprisonment as follows:
  (a) For a class B felony, the term must be at least three years and
must not exceed eight years;
  (b) For a class C felony, the term must be at least two and one-half
years and must not exceed five years;
  (c) For a class D felony, the term must be at least two years and must
not exceed three years;
  (d) For a class E felony, the term must be at least one and one-half
years and must not exceed two years.
  9. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for
a class B, C, D or E felony offense pursuant to section 70.00 of this
title, the court may impose a sentence in accordance with the provisions
of subdivision two of section 70.70 of this title.
  10. Except as provided in subdivision seven of this section, where a
court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence pursuant to
subdivision three of section 70.06 of this title, the court may impose a
sentence in accordance with the provisions of subdivision three of
section 70.70 of this title.
  11. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence
pursuant to subdivision three of section 70.06 of this title, where the
prior felony conviction was for a felony offense defined in section
70.02 of this title, the court may impose a sentence in accordance with
the provisions of subdivision four of section 70.70 of this title.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 93 cases (85 in the last 5 years), 2001–2026 · leading case: People v. Addimando, 2021 NY Slip Op 04364 (N.Y. App. Div. 2021).
People v. Addimando, 2021 NY Slip Op 04364 (N.Y. App. Div. 2021). · cites it 10× “), effective May 14, 2019, which amended Penal Law § 60.12 (hereinafter the DV Survivor's Act or Penal Law § 60.”
People v. N.H., 2026 NY Slip Op 02437 (NY 2026). · cites it 59× “[*1] The issue on appeal is whether, as a condition of a negotiated plea agreement, a defendant may waive a Penal Law § 60.12 hearing to determine their eligibility for an alternative sentence under the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA).”
People v. Burns, 2022 NY Slip Op 04638 (N.Y. App. Div. 2022). · cites it 9× “47 to vacate the sentence imposed upon his conviction of murder in the second degree, and to be resentenced on that conviction in accordance with Penal Law § 60.12. ORDERED that the order is reversed insofar as appealed from, on the law, on the facts, and as a matter of…”
People v. Liz L., 2023 NY Slip Op 06008 (N.Y. App. Div. 2023). · cites it 11× “47; Penal Law § 60.12, as amended by L 2019, ch 31, § 1; L 2019, ch 55, part WW, § 1).”
People v. Fisher, 2023 NY Slip Op 05764 (N.Y. App. Div. 2023). · cites it 6× “47; Penal Law § 60.12, as amended by L 2019, ch 31, § 1; L 2019, ch 55, part WW, § 1).”
People v. T.P., 2023 NY Slip Op 02479 (N.Y. App. Div. 2023). · cites it 4× “As noted in the amicus brief filed by members of the New York State Senate and Assembly who sponsored or supported its passage, the DVSJA resulted from the legislature's second attempt "to provide a more compassionate sentencing scheme for survivors of domestic violence who…”
People v. Brenda WW., 2025 NY Slip Op 03643 (NY 2025). · cites it 24× “47, Penal Law § 60.12). In 2020, Brenda WW, a domestic violence survivor incarcerated for killing her partner, applied for resentencing under the DVSJA.”
People v. Riley, 2023 NY Slip Op 05645 (N.Y. App. Div. 2023). · cites it 9× “Defendant's sole contention on appeal is that County Court erred in not granting her motion to set aside her sentence, arguing that she was denied the effective assistance of counsel by her trial counsel's failure to seek a lesser sentence pursuant to Penal Law § 60.12.…”
Matter of Maria S. v. Tully, 2023 NY Slip Op 01680 (N.Y. App. Div. 2023). · cites it 6× “47, enacted under the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (L 2019, ch 31; L 2019, ch 55, § 1, part WW [hereinafter DVSJA]), to vacate the sentence imposed upon her murder conviction, and to be resentenced on that conviction, effectively, to time served, in accordance with…”
People v. Hernandez, 2025 NY Slip Op 05874 (NY 2025). · cites it 60× “Penal Law § 60.12, as amended by the DVSJA, provides in relevant part that "[n]otwithstanding any other provision of law, where a court is imposing sentence upon a person pursuant to [PL § 70.”
People v. Coles, 2022 NY Slip Op 00678 (N.Y. App. Div. 2022). · cites it 4× “47 to vacate her sentence and to be resentenced in accordance with Penal Law § 60.12. ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for further proceedings consistent herewith.”
People v. Nymeen C., 2026 NY Slip Op 00144 (N.Y. App. Div. 2026). · cites it 9× “47 to vacate her sentence and to be resentenced in accordance with Penal Law § 60.12. Patricia Pazner, New York, NY (Alexis A.”
— N.Y. Penal Law § 60.12(1) — 9 cases
People v. Addimando, 2021 NY Slip Op 04364 (N.Y. App. Div. 2021). “), effective May 14, 2019, which amended Penal Law § 60.12 (hereinafter the DV Survivor's Act or Penal Law § 60.”
People v. Nymeen C., 2026 NY Slip Op 00144 (N.Y. App. Div. 2026). “47 to vacate her sentence and to be resentenced in accordance with Penal Law § 60.12. Patricia Pazner, New York, NY (Alexis A.”
People v. K.D., 2025 NY Slip Op 25055 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., Bronx Cty. 2025).
People v. V.R., 2024 NY Slip Op 50702(U) (2024).
People v. Hudson, 2024 NY Slip Op 04571 (N.Y. App. Div. 2024).
— N.Y. Penal Law § 60.12(1)(a) — 1 case
People v. Croney, 2026 NY Slip Op 00630 (N.Y. App. Div. 2026).
— N.Y. Penal Law § 60.12(1)(c) — 1 case
People v. V.R., 2024 NY Slip Op 50702(U) (2024).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.