Safer NY Act

Advocates and lawmakers rally to repeal law that lets cops hide misbehavior

A woman holds signs in front of police officers as she joins a rally at City Hall Park in downtown Manhattan on Aug. 1, 2016. (Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)
04/09/2019
New York Daily News

ALBANY — A push to repeal a law shielding police officers from public scrutiny is gaining traction in the state capital.

A group of lawmakers and activists, including the mother of Sean Bell, rallied Tuesday for the full repeal of section 50-a of the state’s civil rights law, which prevents the release of disciplinary records of uniformed officers throughout the state.

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. 

Piden a la Legislatura pasar la ‘Safer NY Act’ para regular la actividad policial

Activistas y funcionarios electos protestaron para exigir que se revoque la medida 50-a
En la protesta participo una coalición de noventa organizaciones que impulsa la aprobación de esta ley.
03/21/2019
El Diario NY

Reclamando una reforma completa del sistema de justicia criminal, y una mayor transparencia y responsabilidad de las fuerzas policiales, un grupo de activistas y funcionarios electos, entre los que se encontraba el defensor del pueblo Jumaane Willians, se unieron este jueves en las escalinatas de la Alcaldía para pedir a la Legislatura estatal y al gobernador Andrew Cuomo pasar la ‘Safer NY

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.

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.