Assembly Actions -
Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE |
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Jul 22, 2020 |
referred to codes delivered to assembly passed senate |
Jul 21, 2020 |
ordered to third reading cal.799 |
Jul 20, 2020 |
reported and committed to rules reported and committed to rules |
Jan 08, 2020 |
referred to judiciary returned to senate died in assembly |
Jun 19, 2019 |
referred to codes delivered to assembly passed senate ordered to third reading cal.1735 |
Jun 15, 2019 |
referred to rules |
Senate Bill S6534
2019-2020 Legislative Session
Prohibits the use of certain restraints on children appearing before family court
download bill text pdfSponsored By
(D) Senate District
Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee
- Introduced
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- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
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- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
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- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- Delivered to Governor
- Signed By Governor
Actions
Votes
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Floor Vote: Jul 22, 2020
aye (44)- Addabbo Jr.
- Bailey
- Benjamin
- Biaggi
- Boyle
- Breslin
- Brooks
- Carlucci
- Comrie
- Felder
- Gaughran
- Gianaris
- Gounardes
- Harckham
- Hoylman-Sigal
- Jackson
- Kaminsky
- Kaplan
- Kavanagh
- Kennedy
- Krueger
- Lanza
- Liu
- Martinez
- May
- Mayer
- Metzger
- Montgomery
- Myrie
- Parker
- Persaud
- Ramos
- Ranzenhofer
- Rivera
- Salazar
- Sanders Jr.
- Savino
- Sepúlveda
- Serino
- Serrano
- Skoufis
- Stavisky
- Stewart-Cousins
- Thomas
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Floor Vote: Jun 19, 2019
aye (44)- Addabbo Jr.
- Bailey
- Benjamin
- Biaggi
- Boyle
- Breslin
- Brooks
- Carlucci
- Comrie
- Felder
- Gaughran
- Gianaris
- Gounardes
- Harckham
- Hoylman-Sigal
- Jackson
- Jacobs
- Kaminsky
- Kaplan
- Kavanagh
- Kennedy
- Krueger
- Lanza
- Liu
- Martinez
- May
- Mayer
- Metzger
- Montgomery
- Myrie
- Parker
- Persaud
- Ramos
- Ranzenhofer
- Rivera
- Salazar
- Sanders Jr.
- Savino
- Sepúlveda
- Serrano
- Skoufis
- Stavisky
- Stewart-Cousins
- Thomas
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Jul 21, 2020 - Rules Committee Vote
S653413Aye6Nay0Aye with Reservations0Absent0Excused0AbstainedJun 19, 2019 - Rules Committee Vote
S653412Aye5Nay2Aye with Reservations0Absent0Excused0AbstainedJul 20, 2020 - Judiciary Committee Vote
S653412Aye1Nay2Aye with Reservations0Absent0Excused0Abstained -
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co-Sponsors
(D) 36th Senate District
(D) 16th Senate District
2019-S6534 (ACTIVE) - Details
- See Assembly Version of this Bill:
- A7528
- Current Committee:
- Assembly Codes
- Law Section:
- Family Court Act
- Laws Affected:
- Add §162-a, Fam Ct Act
2019-S6534 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S6534 SPONSOR: MONTGOMERY TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the family court act, in relation to use of restraints on children appearing before the family court This is one in a series of measures being introduced at the request of the Chief Administrative Judge upon the recommendation of his Family Court Advisory and Rules Committee. This measure would amend the Family Court Act to bar the use of restraints on children in Family Court courtrooms except in narrowly defined circumstances. A rapidly escalating national consensus is emerging to restrict routine use of hardware restraints upon children appearing in court. Two major national organizations- the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the American Bar Association - adopted resolutions in 2015 calling for states to enact presumptions against the use of restraints, reserving their use only where a child poses a demonstrated safety risk to himself or herself, or others. Recognizing the partic- ular vulnerability of children, at least 30 states have imposed a presumption against restraints either by statute, court rule or case
law; fifteen states have statutes requiring an individualized judicial finding prior to use of restraints, eleven of which afford youth a right to be heard. Most recently, presumptions against routine restraints and processes similar to that proposed by this measure have been established in Delaware, Connecticut, Indiana, Nebraska and Nevada by statute, in Washington, D.C. by Administrative Order of the Superior Court and in Illinois, Ohio, North Dakota, Utah, Iowa and Tennessee by court rule. As the Florida Supreme Court stated, in promulgating an amendment to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure in 2009, routine sha ckling of chil- dren is "repugnant, degrading, humiliating, and contrary to the stated purpose of the juvenile justice system."1 The instant measure follows this national trend. The measure bars restraints upon persons under age 21 unless Family Court determines and explains on the record why restraints are needed to prevent a child from injuring himself or herself or another person 2; from potentially engaging in physically disruptive courtroom behavior (as may be anticipated from the child's past behavior); or from fleeing the courtroom, as evidenced by a recent history of absconding from the court. Where permitted, restraints must be the "least restrictive alter- native" and, in order to ensure due process, the child must be given an opportunity to he heard regarding their imposition. The measure further provides that in cases where the exception is invoked, only handcuffs or footcuffs may be used and handcuffs may not be joined to footcuffs. The measure closely mirrors the presumption, exception factors and right to be heard in the Florida and Illinois court rules, as well as the Model Statute/Court Rule developed by the Campaign Against Indiscrimi- nate Juvenile Shackling, the statute and court rule in Pennsylvania, and the statutes in Delaware, New Hampshire, North Carolina and South Carolina3. It is similar to the court rules in Massachusetts, Washing- ton, New Mexico, Maryland, Illinois, North Dakota, Utah and, most recently, Iowa4. It is consistent with the orders that resulted from challenges to restraints in California, North Dakota, Oregon and Illinois5. It reflects the criticisms articulated in, and recommenda- tions by, myriad commentators6 and, most recently, in the resolutions by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the Ameri- can Bar Association noted above. Estimating that over 100,000 children have been routinely shackled in court nationally, the National Campaign to End Indiscriminate Shackling of Youth has reported that, since its campaign began in August, 2014, Delaware, Illinois, Connecticut, Mary- land, Indiana, Nebraska, Alaska, Utah, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee and the District of Columbia have prohibited indiscriminate use of restraints. Significantly, reports of the implications of shackling limitations in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and Linn County, Oregon, two and five years, respectively, after the imposition of the limitations have indicated no adverse effects on courtroom safety and decorums. Nor has implementation presented any significant burdens upon the courts as requests for restraints are rare and the hearings, when held, are brief 9. Restrictions upon the use of mechanical restraints on adult offenders in criminal trials has long been recognized as necessary to a fair trial. The United States Supreme Court, in Deck v. Missouri, in rejecting routine shackling as a violation of due process, noted its origins in common law: Blackstone's 1769 Commentaries on the Laws of England noted that "it is laid down in our ancient books" that a defendant "must be brought to the bar without irons, or in any manner of shackled or bonds, unless there be evident dangers of an escape." 544 U.S. 622, 626 (2005). Following Deck, the New York Court of Appeals, in People v. Best, 39 N.Y.3d 739 (2012), criticized a defendant's shack- ling in a bench trial in the absence of a showing of necessity on the record, noting that "judges are human, and the sight of a defendant in restraints may unconsciously influence even a judicial factfinder," in addition to harming the defendant and the public's perception of both defendant "and of criminal proceedings generally." More recently, in United States v. Haynes, 729 F.3d 178, 188 (2nd Cir., 2013), the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, held that: It is beyond dispute that a defendant may not be tried in shackles unless the trial judge finds on the record that it is necessary to use such a restraint as a last resort to satisfy a compelling interest such as preserving the safety of persons in the courtroom. Arguments for restricting use of restraints upon adult offenders are even more compelling with respect to children. Not only can use of shackles infringe upon the presumption of innocence at the fact-finding (trial) stage, but it also can impede a youth's ability and willingness to participate in court proceedings, including dispositional and perman- ency hearings, and to engage in planning for their futures. At a mini- mum, hardware restraints inhibit counsel's ability to develop an attor- ney-client relationship with child clients, a relationship deemed so integral in 3 the Family Court Act (see, e.g., Family Court Act § 241) and to the United States Supreme Court decision in Matter of Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967). The need for a presumption against use of restraints upon juveniles appearing in Family Court is further underscored by the wealth of recent research on adolescent brain development, particularly by the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice. See www.adjj.org. Children's characters are not fully formed until well into adulthood and their sense of self-esteem is especially vulnerable to the harm caused by indiscriminate use of shackles. As Patricia Puritz, former Executive Director of the National Juvenile Defender Center, noted, it is well-documented that "young people are less likely to re-offend when they perceive that the juvenile justice system has treated them fairly": Shackling is simply incompatible with the rehabilitative mission of the juvenile court. Children report feeling like a slave, an animal or a criminal when shackled. This experience does not frighten them into compliance. On the contrary, child psychiatrists say that shackling is so damaging to a child's developing sense of self that it may well push him or her into further criminality. Puritz, supra, note 50. The instant measure recognizes that there will be circumstances in which use of restraints may be necessary, and provides accordingly. In states in which restrictions upon restraints are in effect, the culture has shifted; invocation of the exceptions is rare and provision of a right for the juvenile to be heard upon an oral application, often by a court officer or placement agency official, for restraints to be used has been neither lengthy nor burdensome and has caused no adverse effects. Recog- nition by the United States Supreme Court and New York Court of Appeals of a need to protect adult criminal defendants from the adverse effects of restraints renders even more compelling the need to enact a measure protecting children before Family Court. This measure, which would have no fiscal impact, would take effect imme- diately. 2017-18 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: Senate 4865 (Sen. Bonacic) (committed to Rules) Assembly 5920 (MA Gantt) (advanced to 3rd Rdg., Cal. 423) 2015-16 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: Senate 7605 (Sen. Bonacic) (committed to Rules) Assembly 7879 (MA Gantt) (advanced to 3rd Rdg) 2 1 See In Re Amendment to Fla. Rules of Juvenile Procedure, 26 So.2d 552, 556 (Fl., 2009). 2 The measure solely addresses courtroom appearances. A similar presump- tion currently applies to use of restraints during transportation of juveniles from the State Office of Children and Family Services facili- ties pursuant to an injunction issued in the class action case of Matter of John F. v. Carrion,-Misc.3d-, NY.L.J., Jan. 27, 2010 (S.Ct. N.Y.Co.). 3 See Fla. Rules of Juvenile Procedure § 8.100(b) (2009); Campaign Against Indiscriminate Juvenile Shackling, 2014 Model Statute/Court Rule (www.njdc.info, checked Dec. 29, 2014); Adoption of the New Rule 139 of the Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure, Pa. S.Ct., No. 527, 237 Pa. Code § 139 (Apr. 26, 2011); 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 6336.2 (2012); Del. House Bill HB 211 (2016); N.H. R.S.A. § 126-U:13 (2010); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-2402 (2013); S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-1435 (2014). See Illinois Supreme Court Rule 943; Amendment to Trial Court of the Commonwealth (of Mass) Court Officer Policy and Procedures Manual, ch. 4 Courtroom Procedures, Section VI, Juvenile Court Sessions (2010); N.M. Children's Ct. R. § 10-223A (2013); Wash. Ct. Rule (effective Sept. 1, 2014); Resolution Regarding Shackling of Children in Juvenile Court (Adopted by Md. Judiciary and Chief Judge of Court of Appeals, Sept. 21, 2015); N.D. Rules of Juv. Proc. § 20 (2017); Utah Council Code of Judi- cial Administration § 4-905 (2015); Iowa Rules of Juv. Proc. § 8.41 (2017). 5 See Tiffany A. v. Superior Court, 150 Cal. App. 4th 1344 (2007); In Re R.W.S., 728 N.W.2d 326 (N.D. 2007); In Re Millican, 906 P.2d 857 (Or. Ct.App., 1995); In Re Staley, 364 N.E.2d 72 (Ill., 1977). 6 See, e.g., B. Schatz, "A Court Put a Nine-year Old in Shackles for Stealing Chewing Gum- an Outrage that Happens Every Single Day: Research Shows that Shackling is Bad for Kids and Unnecessary for Court- room Safety. So Why Do Judges Keep Doing It?," Mother Jones (Feb., 2015; vvww.motherjo nes.com/ poli tics/2015/02/c our tsshackle-ju venile-child ren-ABA); S. Marsh, "OP-ED: Indiscriminate Shackling of Children in Juvenile Court Should End, " Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, www.ij ie.oR g, 2015); J. Abdul-Alim, "Justice Advocates Fight to Limit Shackles, Seclusion for Juveniles," (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, June 18, 2015, www.i jie.org); G. Gately, "Why Do We Still Shackle Kids?", The Crime Report, (June 15, 2015); R.May, "Why Do We Still Put Kids In Shackles When They Go To Trial? Murder Suspects Come to Court in Suits. Kids Who Steal Gum Arrive in Belly Irons and Belly Chains," Washington Post, (OpEd, May 8, 2015); P. Puritz, "Shackling Juvenile Offenders can do permanent damage to our kids," Washington Post (OpEd., Nov. 13, 2014); National Juvenile Justice Network, Policy Update: Unchain the Children: Policy Opportunities to End the Shackling of Youth in Court (Sept., 2014; www.n ijn.org, checked Dec. 29, 201 4); National Juvenile Defender Center, Issue Brief Ending the Indiscriminate Shackling of Youth (2014; www.nj dc.info); K. McLaurin, "Children in Chains: Indiscriminate Shackling of Juveniles," 38 Wash. U J.L&Policy 213(2012); H. Ted Rubin, "Shackling Juveniles for Court Hearings: Only if Necessary," 16 Juvenile Justice Update 1:1 (Feb./M arch, 2010); Zeno, "Shackling Children During Court Appearances: Fairness and Securi- ty in Juvenile Courtrooms," 12 J.Gender Race & Just. 257 (2009); Perl- mutter, "Unchain the Children: Gault, Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Shackling" 5 Barry L. Rev. 1(2007). 7 Campaign to End Indiscriminate Juvenile Shackling, supra, note 43; B. Schatz, supra, note 50 ; G. Gately, supra, note 50. 8 A study of 20,000 youth appearing in Miami-Dade County juvenile court from 2006, when the county limited shackling, through 2011 indicated no incidents of flight or harm. See Puritz, supra, note 50, and ABA, supra, note 42. And no incidents were reported by Judge Daniel Murphy regarding ten years of experience in Linn County, Oregon. See Rubin, supra, note 50 at 11. 9 See, e.g., e-mail from Hon. Jay D. Blitzman, First Justice, Massachu- setts Juvenile Court, Middlesex Division, dated Nov. 26, 2014.
2019-S6534 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 6534 2019-2020 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E June 15, 2019 ___________ Introduced by Sen. MONTGOMERY -- (at request of the Office of Court Administration) -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules AN ACT to amend the family court act, in relation to use of restraints on children appearing before the family court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The family court act is amended by adding a new section 162-a to read as follows: § 162-A. USE OF RESTRAINTS ON CHILDREN IN COURTROOMS. (A) USE OF RESTRAINTS. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION, RESTRAINTS ON CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HANDCUFFS, CHAINS, SHACKLES, IRONS OR STRAITJACKETS, ARE PROHIBITED IN THE COURTROOM. (B) EXCEPTION. PERMISSIBLE PHYSICAL RESTRAINT CONSISTING OF HANDCUFFS OR FOOTCUFFS THAT SHALL NOT BE JOINED TO EACH OTHER MAY BE USED IN THE COURTROOM DURING A PROCEEDING BEFORE THE COURT ONLY IF THE COURT DETER- MINES ON THE RECORD, AFTER PROVIDING THE CHILD WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, WHY SUCH RESTRAINT IS THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVE NECESSARY TO PREVENT: (1) PHYSICAL INJURY TO THE CHILD OR ANOTHER PERSON BY THE CHILD; (2) PHYSICALLY DISRUPTIVE COURTROOM BEHAVIOR BY THE CHILD, AS EVIDENCED BY A RECENT HISTORY OF BEHAVIOR THAT PRESENTED A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF PHYSICAL HARM TO THE CHILD OR ANOTHER PERSON, WHERE SUCH BEHAV- IOR INDICATES A SUBSTANTIAL LIKELIHOOD OF CURRENT PHYSICALLY DISRUPTIVE COURTROOM BEHAVIOR BY THE CHILD; OR (3) FLIGHT FROM THE COURTROOM BY THE CHILD, AS EVIDENCED BY A RECENT HISTORY OF ABSCONDING FROM THE COURT. § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD10681-01-9
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