ALBANY, N.Y. — In response to a troubling rise in violent incidents within the New York City subway system, Governor Kathy Hochul announced her intention to propose changes to the state’s involuntary commitment laws. These changes aim to facilitate greater access to mental health treatment for individuals deemed to be a risk to themselves or others, especially following a series of brutal crimes that have captured public attention.

Hochul expressed her concern during a statement released last Friday, emphasizing that many of the recent violent acts were connected to individuals suffering from serious untreated mental illnesses. “The recent surge in violent crimes in our public transit system cannot continue — and we need to tackle this crisis head-on,” she stated, highlighting disturbing incidents, including a case where a woman was tragically burned alive on the subway.

In her plan, Hochul aims to modify the current criteria under which hospitals and courts can mandate treatment for individuals with mental health issues. Currently, state law permits involuntary commitment only for those whose mental illness poses an imminent danger. The proposed legislation would expand this definition, allowing for a broader scope of mental health care intervention.

Subway crime statistics reveal an alarming trend, averaging six crimes per day, underscoring a growing concern about safety among commuters. Hochul attributed this unsettling statistic in part to the challenges faced by the city’s unhoused population, who are disconnected from essential mental health services. “We have a duty to protect the public from random acts of violence, and the only fair and compassionate thing to do is to get our fellow New Yorkers the help they need,” she reiterated.

In conjunction with her commitment to enhancing mental health support, Hochul announced plans to introduce companion legislation aimed at reforming Kendra’s Law, which permits courts to mandate assisted outpatient treatment for individuals with serious mental health challenges. This change is intended to streamline the process for obtaining court orders for treatment and also make voluntary enrollment in these services easier.

While Hochul’s proposals highlight a significant shift towards addressing mental health in the context of public safety, it remains to be seen how these initiatives will be received by the state Legislature, which will convene its annual session shortly. Speaker Carl Heastie acknowledged that there “is a global acknowledgment that we have to do more on mental health,” but insisted he would need to review the specifics of Hochul’s legislation.

As New Yorkers remain anxious about their safety while using the subway, the state’s renewed focus on mental health interventions could play a critical role in both public safety and the wellbeing of individuals grappling with mental illnesses.