Criminal Justice (Drug Policy)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6612: Relates to petition for expungement of records for certain marihuana convictions

S 6612 allows individuals convicted of simple marijuana possession (under Penal Law §222.25) with no prior or subsequent offenses to petition courts for expungement of their records. To qualify, applicants must wait two years after their conviction, complete all probation/parole/fines, and file a verified petition with required court documents. The court must grant expungement within 90 days if no objections are raised by prosecutors or law enforcement. This removes all court records related to the conviction, including arrest details and sentencing, for eligible individuals. The law applies to convictions both before and after its effective date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables expungement of non-violent marijuana convictions, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like reducing recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Senate Apr 29, 2026

S 3778: Establishes the chief administrator of the courts shall submit annually a report on the Drug Treatment Court Program during the preceding year

Establishes the chief administrator of the courts shall submit annually a report on the administration, function and effectiveness of the Drug Treatment Court Program during the preceding year.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires annual evaluation of Drug Treatment Court Program's effectiveness, promoting rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform and accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4677: Relates to the award of crime victim assistance funds for victims of overdoses where a substance was administered through deception or surreptitously

Permits award of crime victim assistance funds to victims of overdoses, where such overdoses cause death and were the result of deception, surreptitious delivery, or third-party administration of a controlled substance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds victim assistance for overdose crimes involving deception, directly supporting victim services within criminal justice system per bill's explicit purpose.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Victims' Rights

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4244: Allows for principals to be remanded into custody for drug treatment where there is a risk of continued substance abuse

Allows for principals to be remanded into custody for drug treatment where there is a risk of continued substance abuse or the use of an opioid antagonist was required.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill redirects offenders to drug treatment instead of incarceration, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform elements.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates drug treatment for substance abuse instead of incarceration, directly supporting healthcare access for addiction treatment through opioid antagonist use.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 632: Includes offenses involving the possession, display or discharge of certain firearms as qualifying offenses for the purpose of allowing a principal to be eligible to be held on bail

Includes offenses involving the possession, display or discharge of a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine-gun, or disguised gun as qualifying offenses for the purpose of allowing a principal to be eligible to be held on bail.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands bail eligibility for firearm offenses, aligning with reform goals to reduce pretrial detention and protect defendant rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 599: Relates to the definition of serious offense and felony offenses against animals for purposes of possession of a firearm

This bill amends New York's penal law to include certain felony animal cruelty offenses as "serious offenses" under firearm possession restrictions. It specifically adds violations of Agriculture and Markets Law sections 351, 353-a, 360, 361, and Penal Law section 242.15 to the list of crimes that prohibit firearm possession. As a result, individuals convicted of these specific animal cruelty felonies would be barred from possessing firearms, aligning their legal status with other serious offenses under current law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands firearm restrictions for animal cruelty felons, aligning with public safety measures under criminal justice framework by adding specific offenses to serious crime list.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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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

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4929: Decriminalizes possession of controlled substances, establishes the drug decriminalization task force; repealer

Eliminates criminal and civil penalties for possession of controlled substances; establishes the drug decriminalization task force to develop recommendations for reforming state laws, regulations and practices so that they align with the stated goal of treating substance use disorder as a disease, rather than a criminal behavior.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes drug possession, treats substance use as health issue, establishes task force for reform - directly advances criminal justice reform by reducing criminalization.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTreats substance use disorder as a health issue rather than criminal behavior, aligning with public health initiatives to improve access to care through legislative reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 7, 2025

A 1291: Authorizes bail for principals charged with aggravated cruelty to animals

This bill amends New York's criminal procedure law to explicitly include "aggravated cruelty to animals" as a charge eligible for bail. It adds this offense to existing lists in sections 510.10, 530.20, and 530.40, which previously listed other minor offenses like third-degree weapon possession. The change directly affects defendants charged with aggravated cruelty to animals under Agriculture and Markets Law § 353-a, allowing them to seek bail release before trial. The policy shift clarifies that this specific animal cruelty charge now qualifies for bail eligibility, aligning it with similar low-level offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands bail eligibility for minor offense (aggravated cruelty to animals), reducing pretrial detention and aligning with criminal justice reform principles of limiting unnecessary incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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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

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Drug Policy

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