NY State Senate Bill 2011-S2019

Senate Bill S2019

2011-2012 Legislative Session

Requires audio and video recording of statements made during criminal interrogations of felony offenses

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Codes Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 04, 2012	referred to codes
Jan 14, 2011	referred to codes

2011-S2019 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Codes
Law Section:: Criminal Procedure Law
Laws Affected:: Add §60.53, CP L
Versions Introduced in 2009-2010 Legislative Session:: S2345

2011-S2019 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides that an oral or written statement of an accused made as a result of a custodial interrogation shall be presumed inadmissible as evidence against such accused in any criminal proceeding charging a felony offense unless an electronic recording is made of such interrogation.

2011-S2019 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S2019

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to requiring the
recording of statements in certain criminal investigations

PURPOSE:
To require the audio and video recording of statements made during
criminal interrogations of felony
offenses. The mandated electronic recording
of the entire interrogation process protects the innocent, ensures the
admissibility of legitimate confessions, and helps law
enforcement defend against allegations of coercion.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Legislative findings

Section 2: Adds a new section 60.53 to the criminal procedure law to
require,the electronic recording of all custodial interrogations at
places of detention. If a recording is not made of the interrogation,
then any statements by the accused are presumed inadmissible as
evidence in any criminal proceeding charging a felony offense.

Section 3: Effective Date

JUSTIFICATION:
For many reasons -- including mental health issues and
aggressive law enforcement tactics -- innocent people sometimes
confess to crimes they did not commit. While it can be hard to
understand why someone would falsely confess to a crime,
psychological research has provided some answers -- and DNA
exonerations have proven that the problem is more widespread than
many people think. In more than 25% of the wrongful convictions
overturned with DNA evidence, defendants made false confessions,
admissions or statements to law enforcement officials.

The electronic recording of interrogations, from the reading of
Miranda rights onward, is the single best reform available to stem
the tide of false confessions. The electronic recording of
interrogations proposed in this legislation would help the innocent
by creating a record of the
entire interrogation, including the interaction leading up to the
confession; ensuring that the suspect's rights are protected in the
interrogation process; and creating a deterrent against improper or
coercive techniques that might be employed absent the presence of a
recording device.

The electronic recording of interrogations proposed in this
legislation would also assist law enforcement by preventing disputes
about how an officer conducted him or herself or treated a suspect;
creating a record of statements made by the suspect, making it
difficult for a defendant to change an account of events originally
provided to law enforcement; permitting officers to concentrate on
the interview, rather than being distracted by copious note-taking
during the course of the interrogation; capturing subtle details that


may be lost if unrecorded, which helps law enforcement better
investigate the crime; and enhancing public confidence in law
enforcement, while reducing the number of citizen complaints against
the police.

Several other states have already enacted legislation requiring the
recording of custodial interrogations and approximately 500
jurisdictions have voluntarily adopted recording policies.
Mandating the recording of custodial interrogations would protect the
innocent, ensure the admissibility of legitimate confessions, and
help law enforcement defend against allegations of coercion.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2010: S.2345 - Referred to Codes
2008: S.8514 - Referred to Rules

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on November first next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become law and shall apply
to custodial interrogations occurring on or after such effective date.

2011-S2019 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  2019

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 14, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sen. SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes

AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to requiring the
  recording of statements in certain criminal investigations

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative  intent.    Properly  recorded interrogations
provide the best evidence of the communications that occurred during  an
interrogation;  prevent  disputes about how an officer conducted himself
or herself or treated a suspect during the course of  an  interrogation;
prevent  a  defendant  from  lying  about  his  or her account of events
originally provided to law enforcement; spare judges and jurors the time
necessary to assess which account of an interrogation  to  believe;  and
enhance  public  confidence in the criminal investigation process. It is
the intent of this legislature to require the video and audio  recording
of custodial interrogations in New York state.
  S  2.  The  criminal  procedure law is amended by adding a new section
60.53 to read as follows:
S 60.53 RULES OF EVIDENCE; ELECTRONIC RECORDING  OF  CUSTODIAL  INTERRO-
GATION.
  1.  FOR  THE  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE
THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
  (A) "CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION" MEANS AN INTERVIEW, BEGINNING WITH A LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S ADVICE OF A PERSON'S  MIRANDA  RIGHTS  AND  ENDING
WHEN  THE INTERVIEW HAS COMPLETELY FINISHED, WHICH OCCURS WHILE A PERSON
REASONABLY BELIEVES HE OR SHE IS IN CUSTODY, INVOLVING A LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER'S QUESTIONING THAT IS REASONABLY LIKELY TO ELICIT  INCRIMINATING
RESPONSES.
  (B)  "PLACE  OF  DETENTION" MEANS A JAIL, POLICE OR SHERIFF'S STATION,
HOLDING CELL, CORRECTIONAL OR DETENTION FACILITY OF  OTHER  PLACE  WHERE
PERSONS ARE QUESTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07707-01-1

S. 2019                             2

  (C) "ELECTRONIC RECORDING" OR "ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED" MEANS AN AUDIO
AND VISUAL RECORDING THAT IS AN AUTHENTIC, ACCURATE AND UNALTERED RECORD
OF A CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION.
  (D)  "STATEMENT"  MEANS  ANY  ORAL,  WRITTEN,  SIGN LANGUAGE OR VERBAL
COMMUNICATION.
  2. (A) ALL STATEMENTS MADE BY A PERSON  DURING  A  CUSTODIAL  INTERRO-
GATION  AT  A  PLACE OF DETENTION RELATING TO A FELONY OFFENSE OR FELONY
OFFENSES BROUGHT UNDER THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED.
  (B) IF ANY PART OF THE INTERROGATION NECESSARILY TAKES  PLACE  OUTSIDE
OF A PLACE OF DETENTION, AUDIO RECORDING IS AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE TO
AUDIO AND VISUAL RECORDING.
  (C)  IN PLACES OF DETENTION, THE CAMERA SHALL BE FOCUSED UPON BOTH THE
INTERROGATOR AND THE SUSPECT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
  3. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISIONS FOUR AND FIVE OF  THIS  SECTION,
ALL  STATEMENTS  MADE  BY A PERSON DURING A CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION THAT
ARE NOT ELECTRONICALLY  RECORDED, AND ALL STATEMENTS MADE THEREAFTER  BY
THE PERSON DURING THE CUSTODIAL INTERROGATIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMIT-
ED TO STATEMENTS THAT ARE ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED, SHALL BE INADMISSIBLE
AS EVIDENCE AGAINST THE PERSON IN ANY FELONY CRIMINAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT
AGAINST SUCH PERSON.
  4. THE PRESUMPTION OF INADMISSIBILITY OF STATEMENTS PROVIDED IN SUBDI-
VISION  THREE  OF THIS SECTION MAY BE OVERCOME, AND STATEMENTS THAT WERE
NOT ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED MAY BE ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE  IN  A  FELONY
CRIMINAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT AGAINST THE PERSON, IF THE COURT FINDS:
  (A)  THAT  THE  STATEMENTS  ARE  ADMISSIBLE  UNDER APPLICABLE RULES OF
EVIDENCE; AND
  (B) THAT THE STATEMENTS ARE PROVEN TO HAVE BEEN MADE VOLUNTARILY,  AND
ARE RELIABLE; AND
  (C)  THAT  LAW  ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL MADE A CONTEMPORANEOUS RECORD OF
THE REASON FOR NOT MAKING AN ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF THE STATEMENTS; AND
  (D) THAT IT IS PROVEN THAT ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING  CIRCUMSTANCES
EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION:
  (I)  THE  QUESTIONS  PUT  FORTH  BY LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, AND THE
PERSON'S RESPONSIVE STATEMENTS, WERE PART OF THE ROUTINE  PROCESSING  OR
"BOOKING" OF THE PERSON; OR
  (II)   BEFORE  OR  DURING  A  CUSTODIAL  INTERROGATION,  AFTER  HAVING
CONSULTED WITH HIS OR HER LAWYER, THE PERSON INDICATED THAT  HE  OR  SHE
WOULD  ONLY  RESPOND TO THE OFFICER'S QUESTIONS IF HIS OR HER STATEMENTS
WERE NOT ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED AND A RECORD IS MADE OF  SUCH  REFUSAL;
OR
  (III)  THE  CUSTODIAL  INTERROGATION NECESSARILY TOOK PLACE IN ANOTHER
JURISDICTION AND WAS CONDUCTED BY  OFFICIALS  OF  THAT  JURISDICTION  IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW OF THAT JURISDICTION; OR
  (IV)  EXIGENT  CIRCUMSTANCES EXISTED WHICH PREVENTED THE MAKING OF, OR
RENDERED IT NOT FEASIBLE TO MAKE, AN ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF THE  CUSTO-
DIAL INTERROGATION.
  5.  STATEMENTS,  WHETHER  OR  NOT  ELECTRONICALLY  RECORDED, WHICH ARE
ADMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE RULES OF EVIDENCE, AND ARE PROVEN  BY  CLEAR
AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE TO HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE PERSON VOLUNTARILY, AND
ARE  RELIABLE,  MAY  BE  ADMITTED  INTO  EVIDENCE  IN  A FELONY CRIMINAL
PROCEEDING BROUGHT AGAINST THE PERSON IF THE COURT FINDS:
  (A) THE CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION OCCURRED BEFORE A GRAND JURY OR COURT;
OR
  (B) THE PERSON AGREED  TO  PARTICIPATE  IN  A  NON-RECORDED  CUSTODIAL
INTERROGATION AFTER HAVING CONSULTED WITH HIS OR HER LAWYER.

S. 2019                             3

  6. (A) COMPLIANCE WITH THE ELECTRONIC RECORDING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH
IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE MONITORED BY THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION
THROUGH THE SUBMISSION OF FORMS BY THE TRIAL JUDGE AND THE PROSECUTOR IN
EACH  CASE OF AN INTERROGATION THAT WAS NOT RECORDED BUT WAS NONETHELESS
INTRODUCED  AS  EVIDENCE IN A CRIMINAL CASE. THESE FORMS SHALL BE DEVEL-
OPED BY THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION, WITH  THE  EXPECTATION  THAT
THE REPORTING FORMS SHALL IDENTIFY ANY PATTERNS OF NONCOMPLIANCE.
  (B) COMPLIANCE WITH THE ELECTRONIC RECORDING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN
THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE  MONITORED  BY THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SERVICES THROUGH THE SUBMISSION OF FORMS BY THE INTERROGATING OFFICER OR
OFFICERS IN EACH CASE  OF  AN  UNRECORDED  CONFESSION,  BOTH  THOSE  NOT
PRESUMED  INADMISSIBLE INTO EVIDENCE UNDER SUBPARAGRAPHS (II), (III) AND
(IV) OF PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION FOUR  OF  THIS  SECTION,  OR  THOSE
INADMISSIBLE  UNDER  THIS SECTION. THESE FORMS SHALL BE DEVELOPED BY THE
DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, WITH  THE  EXPECTATION  THAT  THE
REPORTING FORMS SHALL IDENTIFY ANY PATTERNS OF NONCOMPLIANCE.
  7.(A) EVERY ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF A CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION SHALL BE
CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AND CATALOGUED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.
  (B)  IF  A  FELONY CRIMINAL PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT AGAINST A PERSON WHO
WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN ELECTRONICALLY RECORDED  CUSTODIAL  INTERROGATION,
THE ELECTRONIC RECORDING SHALL BE PRESERVED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL
UNTIL  ALL  APPEALS,  POST-CONVICTION  AND HABEAS CORPUS PROCEEDINGS ARE
FINAL AND CONCLUDED, OR THE TIME WITHIN WHICH THEY SHALL BE BROUGHT  HAS
EXPIRED.
  (C)  IF  NO FELONY CRIMINAL PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT AGAINST A PERSON WHO
HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF AN ELECTRONICALLY  RECORDED  CUSTODIAL  INTERRO-
GATION,  THE  RELATED  ELECTRONIC  RECORDING  SHALL  BE PRESERVED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL UNTIL ALL APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTES OF
LIMITATIONS BAR PROSECUTION OF THE PERSON.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a  law  and  shall  apply  to
custodial interrogations occurring on or after such effective date.

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