NY Police Reform Campaign Responds to Gov. Cuomo’s Criminal Justice Proposals

In response to Governor Cuomo’s criminal justice proposals released after his State of the State and State Budget address, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from its Director of Organizing & Policy Michael Velarde.

“Yesterday’s proposals begin a necessary conversation within state government to achieve justice and safety for communities across New York this legislative session, but details and action are imperative. There are some positive proposals for criminal justice reform – the reporting of police activity by departments across the state is an essential reform. However, significant problems exist within the details of some key proposals that must be resolved to move our state forward as a leader of reforms to advance community safety, equality and justice.

“Leaders in the legislature and Governor Cuomo should make New York a national leader in transparency on policing data by enacting the provisions of A07698/SO6001. It provides more enhanced reporting and transparency than the governor’s proposal, while also ensuring the privacy rights of New Yorkers are protected. The safety of communities across our state and the ability to advance vital policing improvements and reforms depends on this reform being comprehensive.

“Governor Cuomo’s reintroduction of his inadequate independent monitor proposal from last session with some changes and a new name is an unfortunate step backwards. There is a fundamental difference between what the governor is once again proposing and the special prosecutor executive order that families of New Yorkers killed by police fought so tirelessly for. Reopening this debate not only advances bad public policy, but betrays the families and people across the state who advocated for a special prosecutor and justice for New Yorkers, as well as the governor’s pronouncements touting the special prosecutor throughout the country. It’s unacceptable for new legislation to be weaker and more narrow than the existing special prosecutor executive order, and it certainly shouldn’t seek to eliminate some of the key elements of the special prosecutor, as the governor’s proposal does.

“Criminal justice issues, like raising the age of criminal responsibility and ensuring that bail reforms don’t enhance racial disparities, among others, are essential to get right. The governor is right to endeavor in eliminating the harms of bad criminal justice policy in these areas, but getting components of these changes wrong would have detrimental impacts on communities with severe racial disparities and must be avoided.”
 

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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.

Learn more: http://changethenypd.org/
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