Criminal Justice

passed · New York · Senate May 14, 2026

S 8371: Relates to the release of student education records to juvenile detention facilities

Relates to the release of student education records to juvenile detention facilities; provides that where a student has been directed to be held in a juvenile detention facility pursuant to a court order, the educational agency where such student attends school at the time of such direction shall, upon request of the juvenile detention facility where such student is held, disclose such educational records to educational program personnel at such facility without consent of the parent or eligible student under certain circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables educational records access for juvenile detention facilities, supporting rehabilitation programs within corrections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 9916: Relates to employee mental health services

Establishes an employee mental health services program for all employees who work for the department of corrections and community supervision and all employees of the office of mental health who deliver services to incarcerated individuals overseen by the department of corrections and community supervision.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes mental health services for corrections employees, enhancing staff well-being and potentially improving care for incarcerated individuals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes a mental health services program for specific employees, directly expanding access to healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes a mental health services program for specific employees, expanding workplace benefits and protecting worker well-being.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 7810: Relates to reporting requirements for temporary release programs

Adds additional information to reporting requirements for temporary release programs including the number of incarcerated individuals denied participation in each temporary release program and the reasons for denial.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds transparency to denials in temporary release programs, supporting oversight and reform through detailed reporting requirements.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

Track

passed both · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 1946: Provides for the expungement of syringe convictions

This bill (S 1946) allows individuals convicted of specific syringe possession offenses to have their court records sealed. It directly affects people convicted under Penal Law sections 222.10, 222.15, 222.25, 222.45 (current law) or former section 220.45 (prior to the bill's effective date). The key provision adds these conviction types to the list of offenses eligible for expungement under New York's criminal procedure law. The bill creates a legal mechanism for sealing these specific past records, without changing current possession laws or penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables expungement of minor syringe possession convictions, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce recidivism.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 6463: Authorizes the transfer of pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals to residential treatment facilities

Authorizes the transfer of pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals to residential treatment facilities; requires annual reporting on the number of such incarcerated individuals transferred.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes transfers to treatment facilities for pregnant/postpartum inmates, promoting rehabilitation and reducing harmful incarceration practices within corrections reform.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTransfers incarcerated pregnant/postpartum individuals to residential treatment facilities, improving healthcare access for a vulnerable population.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 1714: Prohibits the use of the term "excited delirium" as a diagnosis, label, or cause of death

Prohibits the use of the term "excited delirium" as a diagnosis, label, or cause of death on death certificates, autopsy reports, police reports or any report, policy or procedure by a public agency or contractor; defines excited delirium.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits 'excited delirium' in death reports, preventing misuse that could shield law enforcement from accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 12, 2026

S 56: Establishes a drug checking program

Establishes through the department of health a drug checking services program to allow individuals to bring drugs or controlled substances and have them tested for contaminants, toxic substances, or hazardous compounds; requires the department to establish public health surveillance of the unregulated drug supply; provides exemptions for participants in the drug checking program from certain controlled substance offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides exemptions from controlled substance offenses for drug checking participants, reducing criminalization and aligning with harm reduction reform in criminal justice.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes public health surveillance for drug safety, reducing health risks from contaminants and aligning with harm reduction strategies in healthcare.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · New York · Senate May 11, 2026

S 9848: Relates to the contents of claims

This bill modifies the rules for filing lawsuits in the Court of Claims by removing the strict requirement for detailed specificity in certain sexual offense cases. It directly affects individuals seeking legal relief for injuries caused by sexual crimes against children or adults, as well as the parties being sued. Under the new provisions, plaintiffs alleging harm from specific sexual offenses or incest no longer need to provide the same level of detailed initial information as required in other types of claims. The changes apply immediately to new lawsuits, pending cases, and some previously dismissed cases that are currently being appealed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes barriers to filing lawsuits for sexual offenses, facilitating justice for victims and holding perpetrators accountable.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4389: Ensures that color vision requirements for appointment of police officers are tailored to only eliminate individuals with extreme color vision deficiencies from eligibility

Ensures that color vision requirements for appointment of police officers are tailored to only eliminate individuals with extreme color vision deficiencies from eligibility; provides methods under which an individual can meet such requirements after failing to meet an initial color vision standard.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeTailors police hiring color vision requirements to reduce unnecessary barriers, aligning with civil rights protections in law enforcement recruitment.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate May 6, 2026

S 319: Relates to educational leave for eligible incarcerated individuals

Provides that for the purposes of educational leave, an eligible incarcerated individual shall include an incarcerated individual who is within two years of being an eligible incarcerated individual.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands educational leave eligibility for incarcerated individuals, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key aspects of criminal justice reform in corrections.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for incarcerated individuals by extending eligibility for educational leave, aligning with 'educational access' under the topic description.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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