Criminal Justice

passed both · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 329: Facilitates appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern

This bill (S 329) changes criminal procedure rules to allow defendants to appeal a judge's decision denying a motion to suppress evidence - even if they later enter a guilty plea. It directly affects criminal defendants who want to challenge evidence rulings that may involve issues of public concern. The key provision amends the law to make such denial orders "reviewable upon appeal" from the final conviction, removing a previous barrier that prevented appeals after a guilty plea. This provides a clearer path for defendants to seek appellate review of critical evidence rulings without being barred by their own plea. The change applies to all criminal cases where evidence suppression is contested.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows defendants to appeal evidence suppression rulings after guilty plea, strengthening due process rights in criminal proceedings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 6389: Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to study gender disparity in resources provided to incarcerated individuals

Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to study gender disparity in resources provided to incarcerated individuals and make a report to the governor and the legislature of the findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStudies gender disparity in correctional resources, aiming to inform equitable policy changes aligned with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 360: Relates to expanding the health department's review of correctional health services

Expands the health department's review of correctional health services by including a biennial study of health care staffing at facilities operated by the department of corrections and community supervision.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands health department oversight of correctional facility staffing, promoting better health services and rehabilitation within corrections, aligning with reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands health department oversight of correctional health services via biennial staffing studies, strengthening public health program review in facilities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 14, 2026

S 7713: Restricts the use of automatic license plate reader information

Prohibits automatic license plate reader users from selling, sharing, allowing access to, or transferring automatic license plate reader information to any state or local jurisdiction for the purpose of investigating or enforcing a law that denies or interferes with a person's right to choose or obtain reproductive health care services or any lawful health care services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement data use to protect reproductive health care access, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prohibits using license plate data to enforce laws restricting reproductive healthcare access, directly protecting patient rights in healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts sharing of ALPR data to prevent misuse in health care enforcement, directly strengthening data privacy protections under technology policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

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 No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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

Track

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 No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

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 No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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 No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

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

Track