Safer NY Act News

Safer NY Act is a package of bills in the New York State Legislature that would help increase police transparency and help increase accountability to New Yorkers' most common encounters with police. The #SaferNYAct includes: the Police Statistics and Transparency (STAT) Act, codifying and strengthening the Special Prosecutor executive order, reducing Unnecessary Arrests for low-level, ticketable offenses, repealing the NYS police secrecy law (CRL section 50-a), and legalizing marijuana with strong attention paid to ensuring that resources are reinvested in communities most harmed by prohibition.

No way 50-A! Activists call for repeal of law that hides police misbehavior

State Senator Jessica Ramos joined other elected officials and advocates at City Hall March 21 to call for the repeal of the state’s 50-a law, which shields police records from scrutiny. (Trevor Boyer/New York Daily News)
03/21/2019
New York Daily News

A group of lawmakers and activists on Thursday called for the end of a law that blocks public scrutiny of NYPD misdeeds.

Democratic state legislators and city council members joined activists from Make the Road New York and Moms Rising at City Hall to rally for the repeal of the state’s 50-a law, which prevents the release of disciplinary records of uniformed officers throughout the state.

For immediate release: March 21, 2019

At City Hall Thursday, Police Reform Groups, Jumaane Williams, Elected Officials, and Families Impacted by Police Violence Called for Passage of the Safer NY Act and Repeal of 50-a, New York’s Harmful Police Secrecy Law

New York, NY — Today, at City Hall, police reform groups, elected officials, and families impacted by police violence held a press conference and rally calling on the state legislature and Governor Cuomo to pass the Safer NY Act and repeal 50-a, New York’s harmful police secrecy law. 

The Safer NY Act is a package of state bills that would ensure criminal justice reform also increases police transparency and accountability, and enhances public safety in communities across New York.  

EXCLUSIVE: Reform groups say they'll lobby hard in Albany to repeal law that keeps police discipline records secret

A coalition of groups are calling for police reform and a repeal 50-a. (Susan Watts / New York Daily News)
02/11/2019
New York Daily News

A coalition of 88 police reform groups are making a hard push to scrap a decades-old state law that keeps officer discipline records secret.

The groups — many of them working under the banner of Communities United for Police Reform — will send a letter Tuesday to the state legislature calling for a series of police reforms, including the repeal of 50-a — a 1976 statute that limits public access to police and firefighters' disciplinary records.

For immediate release: February 12, 2019

Police Reform Groups and Families Impacted by Police Violence Tell State Legislature: Pass the Safer New York Act and Repeal 50-a, New York’s Harmful Police Secrecy Law

Albany, NY - Today, members and leaders of Communities United for Police Reform held a press conference and rally in the state capitol calling on the state legislature and Governor Cuomo to pass the Safer New York Act and repeal 50-a, New York’s harmful police secrecy law.

The Safer New York Act is a package of bills that would increase police transparency and accountability, and enhance public safety in communities across New York. 

New York Police Killed Her Son, Then Refused to Answer Her Questions. The Law They’re Hiding Behind Could Soon Be Repealed.

An obscure provision designed to protect personnel records makes it nearly impossible to hold the state’s cops accountable.
02/08/2019
Reason

In 2017, Constance Malcolm sat across from Kevin Richardson, the NYPD lawyer in charge of prosecuting police discipline cases. Richardson said he couldn't tell her the pending charges that were about to be presented in an open and public disciplinary trial against the police officer who killed her son.

For immediate release: February 8, 2019

CPR to NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill: Real Police Transparency and Accountability Require Full Repeal of 50-a

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) released the following statement responding to NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill’s op-ed in the New York Daily News today:

CPR LEADERS PRESENT TESTIMONY CALLING FOR CHANGES TO NYPD DISCIPLINE SYSTEM

Posted on February 7, 2019

On February 7, 2019, family representatives for Ramarley Graham, Eric Garner, Saheed Vassell, and Delrawn Small joined Communities United for Police Reform to present testimony to the New York City Council on reforming the broken NYPD disciplinary process for police officers who engage in misconduct and perpetrate harm against New Yorkers.  Written and oral comments were also submitted by Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) and CPR Members from Make the Road New York, Girls for Gender Equity, Legal Aid Society, New York Civil Liberties Union, Center for Constitutional Rights, and Bronx Defenders.

Quiero un Nueva York más seguro

Necesitamos transparencial policial
01/21/2019
El Diario NY

Han pasado más de 50 años desde que el líder del movimiento de derechos civiles Martin Luther King, pronunció su famoso discurso “Tengo un sueño”, en el que pidió derechos civiles y el fin del racismo. No había nacido cuando eso sucedió, pero mis experiencias personales me han hecho apreciar su lucha.

Por eso formo parte de un movimiento que continúa la lucha para acabar con el racismo y promover los derechos humanos de los neoyorquinos, incluido el derecho a estar libre de violencia policial.

For immediate release: June 12, 2018

NY Police Reform Campaign Responds to State Assembly Passage of Police Transparency & Accountability Legislation

Legislative body passed bill to codify and strengthen executive order establishing Office of New York Attorney General as special prosecutor in police killings, and requirement for the state to collect data on policing by local departments across state

In response to the New York State Assembly passing special prosecutor legislation (A.5617-Perry) today and a police data transparency bill (A.5946A – Lentol) a few days ago, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Kesi Foster, a lead organizer at Make the Road New York.

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