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 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

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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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in committee · New York · Senate May 12, 2026

S 9924: Relates to enforcement actions by the office of cannabis management

This bill expands the enforcement powers of the Office of Cannabis Management to allow for the seizure of cannabis products and related items found in the possession of individuals suspected of violating cannabis laws. The key provision authorizes the office to conduct reasonable searches and confiscate such goods, including those in vehicles used for business, when there is probable cause of unlawful conduct. These actions are intended to be administrative measures designed to ensure consistent application of the regulatory scheme rather than criminal penalties. The changes apply immediately to the existing cannabis law framework.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands enforcement powers and authorizes seizures of cannabis products, which increases criminalization and restricts individual rights within the criminal justice framework.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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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 No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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in committee · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 8910: Increases penalties for reckless operation and unauthorized modification of electric personal mobility devices

Provides a tiered penalty structure for the reckless operation of electric personal mobility devices including fines, confiscation of the device and potential misdemeanor charges; provides penalties for the illegal modification of electric personal mobility devices.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by imposing new penalties for e-device operation/modification, increasing mandatory fines/misdemeanor charges without reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill imposes penalties for reckless operation/modification of e-devices, enhancing road safety standards within transportation infrastructure.85% 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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in committee · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 3639: Relates to penalties for leaving the scene of an accident involving a death

S 3639, "Nick's Law," increases penalties for drivers who flee the scene of an accident resulting in death. It upgrades the offense to a class B felony (with fines of $2,000-$30,000) instead of a lower misdemeanor, directly affecting drivers who leave such accidents without reporting. The bill also adjusts court procedures for adolescent offenders charged with this specific hit-and-run, requiring additional factors to be considered before transferring cases to family court. These changes aim to strengthen accountability for leaving death-related accident scenes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties to class B felony for hit-and-run deaths, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator for oppose stance.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances road safety by increasing penalties for hit-and-run deaths, directly addressing vehicle regulation safety standards within transportation policy.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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