Repeal 50-A

Letter to Gov. Cuomo to Support Full Repeal of Police Secrecy Law/50-a

In a letter to Governor Cuomo on January 6, 2020, sixty-four civil rights, good government and community organizations from across the state of New York called for a full, statewide repeal of New York’s Section 50-a, a counterproductive provision in state law that protects police secrecy, including in cases of misconduct and abuse.  A full repeal of 50-a will increase the transparency of police misconduct and allow communities timely access to important misconduct and discipline records across the state. Repeal of 50-a is a key priority of the

MOTHERS OF THOSE KILLED BY NYPD, CPR LEADERS & ADVOCATES PRESENT TESTIMONY CALLING FOR REPEAL OF POLICE SECRECY LAW 50-A

The New York State Senate Committee on codes held two hearings on October 17 and October 24, 2019 for a bill introduced by Senator Jamaal T. Bailey that would repeal CRL 50-a, the state law that that makes confidential personnel records of law enforcement, including misconduct records. At each hearing family members who have lost loved ones to NYPD violence, members of Communities United for Police Reform and the Safer NY Act coalition, and other advocates and elected officials delivered testimony to the New York State Senate Committee on Codes on the need to completely repeal CRL 50-a.

Chokeholds and Police Abuse, Kept From the Public

There’s still time for New York legislators to repeal the law that keeps police records secret.
Gwen Carr, Eric Garner’s mother, outside One Police Plaza last week.CreditKarsten Moran for The New York Times
06/12/2019
New York Times

An administrative judge will decide soon whether New York Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo should be fired for using a prohibited chokehold that led to the death of Eric Garner and waves of protestover police brutality five years ago.

Whatever her decision, the public may never know about it.

Advocates Push for Repeal of Law that Keeps Police Misconduct Secret

03/21/2019
WNYC

(Click here to listen to radio segment.)

A group of New York legislators are hoping the political mood is right to pass a set of bills meant to increase police transparency and oversight. And they view a root cause of problems with police accountability, and therefore with public trust in law enforcement, as a section of New York Civil Rights Law called 50-a. 

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