Criminal Justice

died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 3909: Enacts the "New York state phoenix act"

Enacts the "New York State Phoenix Act"; extends the statute of limitations for felony family offenses to ten years and misdemeanor family offenses to five years.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtending statute of limitations for family offenses supports victims' access to justice, aligning with criminal justice reform principles by enabling timely prosecution.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed both · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 2667: Prohibits the use of restraints on incarcerated individuals during labor, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant persons during a custodial interrogation

Prohibits the use of restraints on and the use of force against incarcerated individuals during labor and incarcerated individuals who have experienced different pregnancy outcomes, absent extraordinary circumstances, and on pregnant and post-pregnancy persons during a custodial interrogation; provides for certain exceptions for restraints to be used and in such case limits the use to wrist restraints.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits restraints on vulnerable incarcerated populations during labor and interrogation, aligning with civil rights protections and criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits restraints during labor/pregnancy, protecting health safety of incarcerated individuals during critical health events, aligning with patient rights protection.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 1819: Provides that the results of urine tests conducted pursuant to a judicial diversion program shall be private and confidential

This bill (S 1819) ensures that urine test results from judicial diversion programs - where defendants avoid jail by completing treatment instead of facing criminal charges - are kept private and confidential. It directly affects individuals participating in these programs who undergo required drug testing as part of their court-ordered treatment. The law prohibits sharing test results with courts, prosecutors, or other parties without the defendant’s consent, and bans using positive results as evidence in future criminal cases. Treatment programs may still access results to support care, but the defendant’s privacy is protected from legal proceedings. The bill does not change testing requirements but safeguards the confidentiality of sensitive health information.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects defendant privacy in judicial diversion programs, preventing misuse of test results and supporting rehabilitation efforts per bill's confidentiality mandate.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects sensitive health data privacy by prohibiting unauthorized sharing of urine test results in judicial programs, aligning with data privacy indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 5138: Abolishes citizens arrests; repealer

S 5138 abolishes New York State's legal allowance for citizens to make arrests, removing a long-standing provision that permitted ordinary people to detain others under specific circumstances. The bill repeals key sections of the criminal procedure law and penal law that previously authorized citizens to use physical force to arrest individuals suspected of committing certain serious crimes (like murder or robbery) while they were fleeing. This change directly affects all New Yorkers who previously could legally make citizen arrests, replacing that authority with exclusive police powers for arrests. The bill does not alter police procedures or create new offenses, but removes a specific legal tool available to private individuals. It is currently pending in the Assembly after passing the Senate.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves citizens' arrest power to prevent potential civil rights violations during detentions, aligning with criminal justice reform protecting individual rights.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 660: Relates to detaining persons for longer than twenty-four hours

Bill S 660 aims to regulate the detention of individuals by police officers and enhance transparency regarding their custody. It defines "without unnecessary delay" for detention as less than twenty-four hours from the time a person is taken into custody, requiring immediate release if this limit is not met. The bill also mandates that cities with a population of one million or more establish a searchable online registry of detained persons, showing their names, ages, and locations, with access limited to contracted defender organizations. Additionally, it establishes an evidentiary presumption in habeas corpus cases that pre-arraignment detention exceeding twenty-four hours is unlawful unless proven otherwise by clear and convincing evidence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRegulates police detention timelines and mandates public registry for transparency, enhancing accountability in criminal justice90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 4, 2026

A 11199: Enacts the "police radio transparency act"

Requires that any law enforcement agency in the state that encrypts any portion of its radio communications shall ensure that all of its radio communications, with the exception of sensitive information, may be monitored in real time by professional journalists, newscasters, and individuals employed by emergency services organizations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances police accountability by mandating transparency in radio communications for journalists and emergency services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed both · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 8944: Relates to certain guilty pleas

Relates to certain guilty pleas where the plea is in the interest of justice and which are entered into with both the permission of the court and the consent of the people.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires court permission and consent for guilty pleas 'in the interest of justice,' aligning with protections for defendant rights and fair process in criminal justice.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 3, 2026

S 6319: Relates to motions to vacate judgment; repealer

Relates to motions to vacate judgment; authorizes filing motions to vacate judgment for a conviction that was subsequently decriminalized; authorizes motions to vacate judgment to be filed at any time after entry of a judgment obtained at trial or by plea; repeals certain provisions relating thereto.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes vacating convictions for decriminalized offenses, correcting past injustices and reducing unnecessary convictions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 3, 2026

A 8840: Provides that no state or local correctional facility shall deny entry to a visitor to such facility due to the fact that such person is menstruating, wearing a menstrual product or has a contraceptive device

Provides that no state or local correctional facility shall deny entry to a person visiting such facility due to the fact that such person is menstruating or has a contraceptive device or appears on body scan imaging or alternative methods to have or be using a menstrual product or contraceptive device.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects visitor rights in correctional facilities by prohibiting discrimination based on menstruation or contraceptive use, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 9824: Allows certain minor defendants to utilize electronic appearances

This bill allows minors under 18 to participate in certain court arraignments via electronic appearance instead of appearing in person. It permits this under specific conditions, such as when the minor is hospitalized, facing extreme weather, requesting the option with a guarantee of non-monetary release, or when no Youth Part judge is available. For electronic appearances involving minors, the court must determine that the virtual format serves the child's best interests and that physical attendance would unnecessarily disrupt important activities like school or medical treatment. The law also requires that all parties, including the prosecutor and the minor's legal advisor, consent to the electronic process on the record.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill supports criminal justice reform by allowing minors to appear electronically, reducing barriers to court access and prioritizing the child's best interests.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill promotes digital equity by expanding access to electronic court appearances for minors, ensuring technology facilitates justice rather than hindering it.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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