Criminal Justice (Policing)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6646: Relates to admissibility of statements obtained from persons under the age of eighteen by means of deception

This bill makes statements by people under 18 obtained through deception during police custody questioning inadmissible in court. It creates a legal presumption that such statements are involuntary if law enforcement knowingly used false claims about evidence or fake promises of leniency to get a confession. The prosecution must prove the statement was voluntary by a preponderance of evidence, shifting the burden of proof to them. This applies to both criminal trials and family court cases involving minors under 18.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects minors' rights by making deceptive police tactics inadmissible and shifting burden to prosecution - aligns with civil rights and criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Policing

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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

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Policing Women's Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7593: Allows access to sealed and protected records to civilian law enforcement oversight entities conducting investigations and disciplinary proceedings for misconduct by police and peace officers

Allows access to sealed and protected records to civilian law enforcement oversight entities conducting investigations and disciplinary proceedings for misconduct by police and peace officers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables civilian oversight to access sealed records for police misconduct investigations, directly enhancing law enforcement accountability per reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1537: Prohibits the use of DNA phenotyping in criminal prosecutions and proceedings

This bill prohibits law enforcement agencies from using or contracting for DNA phenotyping, which predicts physical traits (like eye color or ancestry) from DNA samples, in criminal investigations or prosecutions. It bans all evidence derived from this technology from being used as reasonable cause for arrest or in court, and requires existing DNA phenotyping data held by police to be destroyed immediately. Any conviction linked to such evidence becomes eligible for legal review. The law directly affects police departments, prosecutors, and criminal court proceedings by eliminating a specific investigative tool.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans DNA phenotyping evidence in criminal cases, restricting potentially biased investigative tools to protect civil rights and due process, aligning with reform goals.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill prohibits DNA phenotyping (a technology processing genetic data for trait prediction) in criminal cases, banning its use and requiring data destruction to protect privacy. This restricts a specific technology's application in law enforcement,...90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7182: Prohibits the involuntary use of sedatives during an arrest

This bill prohibits law enforcement from administering or directing the administration of sedatives to individuals during an arrest without that person's consent. It directly affects police officers during arrest procedures and individuals being arrested. The law amends existing rules by adding involuntary sedative use to the list of prohibited force tactics. This creates a clear legal restriction against using sedatives without consent in arrest situations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits involuntary sedative use during arrests, protecting individual rights and enhancing police accountability - directly aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1646: Requires certain employees of the New York state department of corrections and community supervision to wear body cameras

Requires every parole officer and employee of the department of corrections and community supervision to wear body cameras with video and audio whenever they are interacting with a parolee; implements the use of cameras in every official office and room in the department.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires body cameras for parole officers and correction staff to enhance accountability during interactions, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of transparency and oversight.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Probation & Parole

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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

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1402: Relates to providing a civil action for deprivation of rights

This bill creates a new civil lawsuit pathway for individuals whose constitutional or federal rights were violated by government actors (such as police, courts, or public officials). It allows victims to sue for damages and court-ordered remedies, removes common defenses like "I thought it was legal," and requires courts to award attorney fees to winning plaintiffs - even if the case settles without a formal judgment. Public entities (like cities or state agencies) must cover their employees' legal costs if sued under this law, and lawsuits must be filed within three years of the violation. It directly affects people harmed by government overreach, ensuring they have a clear legal route to seek redress for rights violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates civil suit for rights violations by police/courts, removes defenses like 'I thought it was legal,' mandates attorney fees - enhances accountability and protects civil rights in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6593: Requires reporting to the federal bureau of investigation's national use-of-force data collection program

S 6593 requires New York's Division of Criminal Justice Services to report all police use-of-force incidents to the FBI's national database. It mandates reporting specific force types (like firearms, chokeholds, chemical agents, or impact weapons) and includes detailed demographic data (age, race, gender, etc.) for all involved parties. Police departments, sheriff's offices, and state police that fail to submit these reports face a 10% reduction in state funding until compliance is achieved. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies by creating a new data collection obligation under state law, aligning with federal reporting standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates detailed use-of-force reporting with demographic data and funding penalties for non-compliance, enhancing police accountability and transparency in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5823: Creates a temporary state commission relating to local correctional facilities in upstate New York

Creates a temporary state commission relating to local correctional facilities in upstate New York; provides commission study shall place emphasis on medical and mental health care, overcrowding, incarcerated individual deaths, use of force, restraints, and all segregation and confinement practices and solitary confinement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates commission study of correctional facility issues including mental health care, overcrowding, and solitary confinement - core criminal justice reform priorities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing

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