A byproduct of the state’s criminal justice reform legislation could be the unmasking of those who report housing code violations or other violations.

State Sen. James Gaughran, D-Northport, wants the state Legislature to amend the state Criminal Procedure Law to allow anonymity for those who report violations of local codes or ordinances. Criminal justice reforms passed as part of the 2019-20 state budget require the name and contact information of anyone who contributed information pertaining to a charge be disclosed to a defendant.

Gaughran has introduced S.6928 in the state Senate to amend the law because he fears disclosing contact information for those who report local law violations or housing code violations would keep people from reporting the violations.

“This bill would allow for the anonymity of a person reporting a violation of a local law or ordinance,” Gaughran wrote in his legislative justification. “By their very nature, the prosecution of local laws and ordinances are different than the prosecution of a criminal matter. Frequently, the only evidence that a local attorney has when initiating an investigation in to alleged violations is the report of a neighbor. If neighbors can no longer make anonymous complaints, many will choose not to report violations at all, because of the proximity in which they live to the accused and because of fear of retaliation.”