CPR Responds to NYC Council Summons Reform, Hearing

In response to a New York City Council hearing today on a package of legislation collectively called the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Monifa Bandele.

New York, NY

“The Council's summons reform is a positive first step to increase transparency and reduce the disproportionate legal consequences of low-level, non-criminal violations, though significant concerns and details must be addressed to avoid unintended negative impacts on New Yorkers, particularly low-income communities of color. It is also essential that the Council simultaneously advance front-end policing reforms, like the Right to Know Act, to end the policing abuses that make some New Yorkers and communities the disproportionate target of low-level enforcement in the first place. Failing to address this front-end problem of low-income communities of color being targeted more than other New Yorkers for broken windows enforcement actions will only transfer these inequalities into the newly expanded civil enforcement structure being proposed.

“We hope the introduction of these new proposals is the beginning of a productive conversation that offers communities most impacted by counterproductive laws, policies, and practices a substantive opportunity to help shape final solutions including those beyond policing. The details are critical, and areas that must be further examined include the need to ensure due process and access to counsel in administrative courts, and economic protections for New Yorkers. The stakes are high to ensure that New York City avoids unintentionally creating a framework that could be perverted by future officeholders into a Ferguson-like predatory system incentivized to generate revenues from New Yorkers least able to afford it.”

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About Communities United for Police Reform: Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and policing practices based on cooperation and respect– not discriminatory targeting and harassment. CPR brings together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those unfairly targeted the most by the NYPD. CPR is fighting for reforms that will promote community safety while ensuring that the NYPD protects and serves all New Yorkers.