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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 4957: Provides for review of bail data reports by the state commission on judicial conduct

Provides for review of bail data reports by the state commission on judicial conduct to study such reports for evidence of bias or prejudice by any judge or justice, and where appropriate based on such reports, to initiate, investigate, and hear complaints and otherwise comment on matters of bias and prejudice evidenced therein.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates review of bail data for judicial bias, enhancing oversight to protect against prejudice in court decisions, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 3746: Requires at least one member of the state board of parole be a formerly incarcerated person

This bill requires New York's state parole board to include at least one member who has been previously incarcerated. It directly affects the board's composition, which reviews prisoner release decisions and is appointed by the governor. The law amends existing statutes to mandate that one of the board's members must have firsthand experience with the prison system. This change is a concrete policy adjustment to the board's membership rules, without specifying how this experience would influence decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates parole board inclusion of formerly incarcerated person, advancing reform by incorporating lived experience into release decisions to improve rehabilitation and oversight.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed both · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 1004: Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial

This bill amends New York's criminal procedure law to clarify how courts assess whether a defendant has the mental capacity to stand trial. It requires psychiatric examiners to specifically evaluate whether "restoration services" (such as medication support, competency training, or symptom management) could reasonably restore a defendant's capacity within a set timeframe, and include this assessment in their reports. The bill directly affects defendants in criminal cases who may lack mental capacity due to illness or disability, ensuring their evaluation process considers potential treatment pathways. Key provisions define "restoration services" and mandate that examiners' reports detail the feasibility of such services before a court decides on next steps.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to assess restoration services for defendant competency, promoting fair trials and rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 6727: Relates to the evidentiary standard for evidentiary and disciplinary hearings

This bill (S 6727) changes the evidentiary standard for disciplinary and evidentiary hearings in New York's correction system. It replaces the current "substantial evidence" standard with the higher "preponderance of the evidence" standard (meaning it is more likely than not that the facts support the decision). This directly affects inmates and staff facing disciplinary actions in correctional facilities, as it raises the bar for evidence required to uphold those decisions. If enacted, the change would apply to all such hearings under the Correction Law and take effect 90 days after becoming law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill raises evidentiary standard in correctional disciplinary hearings, requiring stronger evidence to protect inmates' rights from unfair punishment. Aligns with criminal justice reform by enhancing due process.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

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

Track

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

Track