Criminal Justice

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 · New York · Senate May 29, 2026

S 626: Adds ammunition to the list of prohibited items to purchase or dispose of after certain convictions

This bill adds ammunition to the list of items prohibited from purchase or disposal after certain criminal convictions. It expands existing law that already bans firearm transactions for people barred from firearm possession due to prior convictions or disabilities. Now, individuals prohibited from owning firearms cannot legally buy or give away ammunition. Violating this provision would be classified as a class D felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands restrictions on convicted individuals' access to ammunition, increasing criminalization and reducing defendant rights per bill's prohibition on ammunition transactions.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 1048: Requires public agencies to establish preliminary license application procedures to determine whether an applicant for a license would be ineligible for such license based on criminal history

Requires public agencies to establish preliminary license application procedures to determine whether an applicant for a license would be ineligible for such license based on criminal history; establishes time frames for public agencies to respond to such applications; requires public agencies to report information regarding granting licenses annually.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates criminal history checks for license eligibility, potentially restricting opportunities for individuals with records, opposing reform efforts to reduce such barriers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 197: Relates to the sentencing for the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals

Enacts "Tucker's law"; removes the provision that provides that any term of imprisonment for a violation of aggravated cruelty to animals may not exceed two years.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves 2-year cap on animal cruelty sentencing, increasing potential prison terms. Aligns with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator for oppose stance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate Apr 22, 2026

S 5110: Categorizes the assault of certain employees of the New York city department of buildings or the New York city department of housing preservation and development as a class D felony

Categorizes the assault of certain employees of the New York city department of buildings or the New York city department of housing preservation and development as a class D felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assaulting city employees by elevating assault to a class D felony, expanding criminalization and strengthening punishment rather than advancing reform.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate Apr 1, 2026

S 4776: Relates to the crimes of falsely reporting an incident in the first and second degrees

Adds falsely reporting the use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument as part of the crimes of falsely reporting an incident in the first and second degrees.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by adding false weapon reports to felony charges, increasing penalties for false reporting to law enforcement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 205: Relates to a threat to share an intimate image

Establishes that when an actor threatens to disseminate or publish a still or video image depicting such other person with one or more intimate parts exposed or engaging in sexual conduct with another person, including a still or video image created or altered by digitization, where such person may reasonably be identified from the still or video image itself or from information displayed in connection with the still or video image within the provisions of unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense for threatening intimate image dissemination, expanding criminalization per indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 11, 2026

S 3256: Increases the penalties for operating a snowmobile while intoxicated

Increases the penalties for operating a snowmobile while intoxicated, doubles penalties for operators having .18 of one per centum or more by weight of alcohol in their blood, breath, urine, or saliva, and includes other operating while intoxicated convictions in sentencing considerations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for snowmobile intoxication, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing - directly opposing criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 10, 2026

S 83: Relates to establishing the crime of larceny by cyber extortion

Relates to establishing the crime of larceny by cyber extortion which occurs when a person intends to obtain property from another person or entity located in the state of New York through the use of certain malicious software.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill establishes new crime of cyber extortion, expanding criminalization per 'oppose' indicator without reform or protection measures.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes cyber extortion as a crime using malicious software, directly enhancing cybersecurity protections against tech-enabled crimes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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