Gov. Hochul proposes broadening involuntary commitment laws for violent crimes on subway in New York.

Kathy Hochul, New York's Democratic governor, aims to broaden the state's involuntary commitment laws to enable hospitals to compel more individuals with mental health issues into treatment.

In response to a series of violent crimes in the New York City subway system, there has been an increase in security measures.

Hochul stated on Friday that she plans to propose legislation during the upcoming legislative session to revise mental health care laws in response to the recent increase in violent crimes on the subway.

The governor stated that numerous horrific incidents have occurred due to untreated mental illness in people who are homeless and disconnected from our mental health care system.

"It is our responsibility to safeguard the public against sudden acts of violence, and the most just and merciful course of action is to assist our fellow New Yorkers in obtaining the aid they require," she stated.

Most people with mental illness are not violent and are more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators of it, according to mental health experts.

The governor did not provide details on what her legislation would change.

She stated that the legislation will broaden the definition of mental illness to include individuals who pose a risk of serious harm to themselves or others, allowing hospitals to commit them for care.

Hochul stated that she would propose another legislation to enhance the court's ability to mandate assisted outpatient treatments for mental illness and simplify the process for individuals to willingly participate in these treatments.

The governor expressed her gratitude to law enforcement for their efforts to ensure subway safety but emphasized that addressing the issue requires changes to state law.

She stated that ensuring public safety is her top priority and she will do everything possible to keep New Yorkers safe.

Under current law, police have the authority to force individuals suspected of having a mental illness and posing a risk of harm to themselves or others to be taken to hospitals for evaluation. It is then up to psychiatrists to determine if the patients require involuntary hospitalization.

The New York Civil Liberties Union's executive director, Donna Lieberman, stated that increasing the number of people placed into involuntary commitment does not enhance safety, diverts attention from addressing the underlying issues, and endangers the rights and freedoms of New Yorkers.

New York City has experienced a string of violent crimes in its subways, including an incident on New Year's Eve when a man shoved another man onto subway tracks, on Christmas Eve when a man slashed two people with a knife, and on Dec. 22 when a suspect lit a sleeping woman on fire and burned her to death. In response, Governor Hochul has made a statement.

The medical histories of the suspects in the three incidents were not immediately clear, but New York City Mayor Eric Adams has stated that the man accused of the knife attack in Grand Central had a history of mental illness. Additionally, the father of the suspect who shoved a man onto the tracks has revealed that he had become concerned about his son's mental health in the weeks leading up to the incident.

For years, Adams has advocated for expanding mental health care laws and has previously supported a policy that permits hospitals to involuntarily commit individuals who are unable to fulfill their basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.

The mayor condemned the act of denying life-saving psychiatric care to individuals with mental illness who are unable to recognize their need for it, as a violation of our moral responsibility.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.