Safer NY Act

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.

For immediate release: January 8, 2020

Communities United for Police Reform responds to Governor Cuomo's State of the State and failure to address police violence

In response to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2020 State of The State address, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement, which can be attributed to spokesperson Nahal Zamani:

"We’re disappointed in Governor Cuomo’s failure to address reducing police violence and improving police accountability and transparency in New York State.

For immediate release: January 7, 2020

Civil rights, good government and community groups call on Governor Cuomo to promote police transparency and accountability through full repeal of police secrecy law 50-a

In a letter to Governor Cuomo, sixty-four civil rights, good government and community organizations from across the state of New York are calling 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 ac

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

For immediate release: January 5, 2020

Retired Albany Police Chief Calls For Repeal of Police Secrecy Law

Retired Chief Brendan Cox: “Repealing New York’s 50-a law is a critical step to protect the public safety of all New Yorkers.”

On the eve of the 2020 legislative session, retired Albany Chief of Police Brendan Cox took to the pages of the Albany Times Union today to call for the repeal of New York State’s police secrecy law, Section 50-a, which hides police misconduct and abuse records from the public. Cox argued that overturning the law is a “practical solution” that will help restore trust between police departments and the communities they serve.

For immediate release: October 17, 2019

New Yorkers Slam Mayor de Blasio for Pulling City Officials From State Senate Hearing on Nation’s Worst Police Secrecy Law (50-a)

Mothers of Eric Garner, Ramarley Graham & Sean Bell join Other Advocates Testify to Urge Legislature to Fully Repeal 50-a

New York, NY – On October 17, New Yorkers, including mothers of those killed by NYPD officers, and other police accountability advocates testified before the State Senate Committee on Codes in support of a bill to repeal New York state’s police secrecy law, 50-a (S.3695-Bailey/A-2513 O’Donnell).

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

Posted on October 16, 2019

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.
For immediate release: October 16, 2019

Ahead of New York Senate Hearings, Elected Officials & Groups Call for Full Repeal of State Police Secrecy Law (50-a) That Is Worst In the Nation

Group calls on NYS legislature to repeal state law 50-a in 2020 legislative session

Today, elected officials, families whose loved ones have been killed by police, and advocates rallied on the steps New York City Hall to call for the full repeal of New York state’s police secrecy law, known as “50-a”. The rally preceded upcoming hearings that the New York State Senate Committee on Codes will be holding on October 17th (in New York City) and October 24th (in Albany). Over 100 organizations across New York state support repeal of 50-a, a key priority of the Safer New York Act legislative package, organized by Communities United for Police Reform (CPR).
For immediate release: June 21, 2019

Families Impacted by Police Violence Join Progressive and Community Organizations in Slamming State Legislative Leaders and Governor Cuomo for Failing to Pass the Safer NY Act

New York – Today, New York families impacted by police violence joined progressive and community organizations to slam the state’s legislative leaders and Governor Cuomo for failing to pass the Safer NY Act, a package of bills designed to increase police accountability and enhance public safety for all New Yorkers.

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.

For immediate release: June 12, 2019

Police Accountability Advocates and Progressive Leaders Call on Governor Cuomo and State Legislative Leaders to Pass Safer NY Act, Including Special Prosecutor, #PoliceSTATAct, and Full Repeal of 50-a Before June 19

Families of those killed by police slam Governor for threatening to rollback special prosecutor Executive Order

Albany - Today, a coalition of more than one hundred organizations from across New York called on Governor Cuomo and state legislative leaders to pass the Safer NY Act, a package that includes a bill to repeal 50-a (New York’s harmful police secrecy law), a bill to strengthen the Special Prosecutor Executive Order, a bill to increase transparency of police interactions and other police accountability bills.

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