nearly 1,800,000 per year punitive interactions between
TRANSCRIPT
Nearly1,800,000PerYearPunitiveInteractionsBetweenNYPDandNewYorkers
ByThePoliceReformOrganizingProject
October2016
2
TableofContents
Prologue 3 PunitiveInteractionStatistics 4AdditionalKeyFindings 5Conclusion 7Appendix 8
v CommonChargesDemystified 8 v RelevantCharts 11
EndNotes 13
3
Prologue
ThenumberofpunitiveinteractionsbetweentheNYPD&NewYorkersfor20151cameto1,783,414,adeclineof129,601,or6.7%,fromthetotalof1,913,015punitiveinteractionsrecordedfor2014.Forthepeoplewhowillputapositivespinonthedropinnumbers,wepointtotherelevantstatementbyMalcolmX:
“Ifyoustickaknifenineinchesintomyback&pullitoutthreeinches,thatisnot
progress.”
Here'sametaphortoillustrateourpoint:Supposeagangof7or8menattackapersonwalkingdownthestreet,throwthepersonontheground,&placetheirfeetonthevictim.Doesitmakemuchdifferencetothepersonattackedifonemanliftshisfoot?Thevictimisstillhelddown,stillinpain&distress,stillunabletogetup,stillunabletomoveforward.Soitisforthelow-incomecommunitiesof
colorwhoenduretheheavilydisproportionatebruntoftheNYPD'spunitiveactions.
4
PunitiveInteractionStatistics
Incarryingoutitsquotadriven‘brokenwindows’policingtactics,theNYPDengagesinaveryhighnumberofpunitiveinteractionswithNewYorkers.PROPcompiledthestatisticsinthisreport—allobtainedfromtheNYPDandothergovernmentagencies—forthemainpurposeofconcretelyandsubstantivelydemonstratingtheextensiveandintrusivenatureoftheNYPD’spunitiveinteractionswithNewYorkersonadaily,weekly,monthly,andyearlybasis.
PunitiveActionsCarriedoutbytheNYPDin2015:
PunitiveActionDaily#of
InteractionsWeekly#ofInteractions
Monthly#ofInteractions
Yearly#ofInteractions
MovingViolationSummonses2(Ex:tintedwindows,speeding,notwearingseatbelt)
2,748 19,289 83,587 1,003,043
FelonyArrests3 240 1,689 7,320 87,845CriminalSummonses4(ex:opencontainer,bikeonsidewalk,publicurination)
814 5,719 24,784 297,413
MisdemeanorArrests5 621 4,357 18,897 226,549
JuvenileArrests6 16 110 475 5,704
StopandFrisks7 64 454 1,868 23,625
TransitAdjudicationBureauSummonses8(subwayandbusfacilitiesviolations)
381 2,677 11,602 139,235
Total 4,886 35,000 148,000 1,783,414
TransitAdjudicationBureauSummonses1(subwayandbusviolations)
381 2,677 11,602 139,235
5
KeyFindingsDocumentingtheRacialBias,WasteandIneffectivenessofNYPDPractices
v Byallaccountsandreckonings,80-95%ofthesepunitiveinteractionstakeplacenotbetweentheNYPDandthecity’sfullpopulationof8.4millionpeople,butbetweentheNYPDandAfrican-AmericansandLatinoslivinginthecitybetweentheagesof15and59,roughly2.6millionpeople.910
v AccordingtoNYPDstatistics,94.9%ofjuvenilearrestsin2015involvedAfrican-AmericanorLatinoyoungpeople.11
v AccordingtoNYPDstatistics,88.8%ofstopandfrisksin2015involvedNewYorkersof
color.12
v Ofthe297,413criminalcourtsummonsesthattheNYPDissuedlastyear,thegreatestproportionbyfar,104,859,representedopenalcoholcontainercharges.Inreferencetoopencontainersummonses,onejudgestatedthat,“Inhisexperience…theDepartmentsingledoutblacksandHispanicswhenissuingpublicdrinkingsummonses.‘AshardasItry,Icannotrecalleverarraigningawhitedefendantforsuchaviolation,’wroteJudgeDear”13
v Lastyear,theNYPD’smisdemeanorpracticescostthecityapproximately$396,460,750
orover$1,000,000perday.14Lessthan10%ofthepeoplearrestedformisdemeanorsaresentencedtotimeinjail.15
v ThenumberofticketsthattheNYPDissuedin2015forsomemovingtrafficviolations
arestrikinglyhigh;forexample,68,026fortintedwindows(anaverageof186perday),81,820fornotwearingaseatbelt(anaverageof224perday);and165,389for“disobeyingtrafficcontroldevice,”whichincludeschargeslikefailingtostopatastopsign(anaverageof453perday).16
v AccordingtothePreliminaryMayor’sManagementReportreleasedlastmonth,in
fiscalyear2015thecitypaidout$202.6milliontosettleclaimsbroughtagainsttheNYPD.Thatissubstantiallymorethanthe$154.1millionpaidinthepreviousfiscalyear,andmorethandoublethe$86.5millionpaidoutadecadeearlierin2005.17
v OnJuly6th,2015,theNewYorkDailyNewspublishedafront-pagestoryabouta
classactionlawsuitallegingthatofficershaveissued850,000bogussummonsesduetoanNYPDquotasystemforevaluatingofficerperformance.Thearticlecitesatextfromapolicesergeantthatreads:“Wemissedseatbeltnumberby30lastweekunacceptable.Ifneedbeyouguyswillgowithme2trafficstat2explainwhyumissed.”ItalsoquotesapolicecaptainupsetaboutthelackofarrestsamonghisleadingovertimeearnersintheBronxTaskForcedivision:“Thishastostopitis
6
ridiculoustohave50+hourswithonlyonearrest.”18
v InaseriesofarticlescoveringtheNYPD’ssummonspractices,TheNewYorkDailyNewsreportedthat81%ofthepeopleticketedwereAfrican-AmericanorLatinoandthatonly22%ofthecasesresultedinafindingofguilt.19
v Inapracticethat,ineffect,criminalizespoverty,theNYPDconcentrateditsresources
onsanctioningfareevasionin2015.Mostpeopleattempttojumpaturnstilenotforthethrillofit,butbecausetheroundtripfairof$5.50isafinancialburdenforthem.“Theftofservices”,orfareevasion,wasthelargestcategoryofNYPDarrestslastyearwith29,198arrests,92%involvingNewYorkersofcolor.In2015theNYPDalsoissued123,921summonsesforfareevasion,bringingthetotalNYPDsanctionsforfareevasionin2015to153,119oranaverageofabout420perday.20
7
Conclusion
Thesestartlingstatisticsrepresentmorethananinterestingcompilationof
numbers.Theyreflectinteractionsthattakeplacealmostentirelybetweenthepoliceandcertaingroupsofpeoplewholiveinourcity,namelyNewYorkersofcolor.Thesestatisticsrepresentincompellingandquantifiabletermstheoppressiveandharmfulimpactofquota-driven‘brokenwindows’policingonthelivesandwell-beingofNewYorkCity’sAfrican-AmericanandLatinocitizens.Itistimethatourcity’sleaders,particularlyMayordeBlasioandCouncilSpeakerMark-Viverito,whohavedonevirtuallynothingtoendthesediscriminatorypractices,takeofftheirblindersandrecognizetheinstitutionalracisminherentintheNYPD’scurrentpractices.Untilthen,corrosivelawenforcementpolicieswillcontinuetoexacerbatetheracial,social,andeconomicinequitiesthatplagueourcity.
8
Appendix
CommonChargesDemystified:
ParkAfterDark
ListedundertheRulesandRegulationsoftheNewYorkCityDepartmentofParks1-03.GeneralProvisionssub(a)states:“Personsmayenterandusetheparksfrom6a.m.until1a.m,unlessotheropenhoursarepostedatanypark”.Enteringaparkafterthesestandardtimesorthepostedhoursconstitutesamisdemeanorthatispunishablebyafineof$1,000orupto90daysinprison.21
Marijuana
ListedunderSection221oftheNewYorkPenalLaw,rangingfromaviolation(221.05)toathirdclassfelony(221.55)Therearevaryinglevelsofoffensesformarijuanapossession,sale,trafficking,cultivation,orforpossessingorsellingparaphernalia,hash,andconcentrates.22
Trespass
ListedunderArticle140.00oftheNewYorkPenalLaw.Undersection140.05,trespassisconsideredaviolation,notamisdemeanor.Apersonisguiltyof140.05ifheorsheknowinglyentersorremainsunlawfullyinoruponpremises.Section140.10,criminaltrespassinthethirddegreewhenheorsheknowinglyentersorremainsunlawfullyinabuildingorpropertylikeschoolsorhousingprojects.Atrespasschargeoftenaccompaniesthecharge“theftofservices”,whichisthechargeforenteringthesubwaywithoutswiping.23
TheftofServices
ListedunderArticle165.15oftheNewYorkPenalLawasaClassAmisdemeanor.Apersonisguiltyoftheftofserviceswhenheorsheattemptstoobtainaservicewithoutpaying.Servicesmayincludegas,steam,water,andtelevision,eatingatarestaurant,stayinginahotel,motel,orinn,orridingarailroad,subway,bus,air,ortaxiservice.24
AggressiveBegging
ListedunderSection10-136oftheNewYorkAdministrativeCodewiththeofficialtitle“Prohibitionagainstcertaincormsofaggressivesolicitation”asamisdemeanorpunishablebyimprisonmentforuptosixteendaysorafineofuptoonehundreddollars,orbyboth.Thissectiondefinesan“aggressivemanner”ofsolicitationasapproaching,speaking,orfollowingapersonbefore,duringoraftertheactofsolicitationinawaythatmakesthispersonfearbodilyharm,damagetoone’sproperty,orfeelintimidatedintogivingmoney.Solicitinginanaggressivewaycanalsomeanthatthepersonbeingsolicitedismadetosuffer“unreasonableinconvenience,annoyance,oralarm”.25
PetitLarceny Listedundersection155.25oftheNewYorkStatePenalLawasamisdemeanorpunishablebyafineupto$100orimprisonmentofup
9
1 New York Tax Law, Cigarette and tobacco products tax
totwentydays,orbyboth.Apersonisguiltyofpetitlarcenywhenheorshestealsproperty.Propertyisdefinedasanymoney,personalproperty,realproperty,oranythingofvalue.Apersoncommitslarcenywhen,“withintenttodepriveanotherofproperty,heorshewrongfullytakes,obtains,orwithholdssomeoneelse’sproperty”.26
BikeonSidewalk
ListedunderSection19-176oftheNewYorkAdministrativeCode.Apersonwhoviolatesthissubdivisioncanbechargedwithaviolationandwillbeliableforacivilpenaltyofupto$100.Apersonwhoviolatesthissectioninamannerthatendangersanypersonorpropertywillbeguiltyofamisdemeanor,punishablebyafineupto$100orimprisonmentofuptotwentydaysorbyboth.27
PublicUrination
Listedundereither153.09oftheNewYorkCityBoardofHealth’sHealthCodeandRules,or16-118oftheNewYorkCityAdministrativeCode.Article153.09oftheHealthCodeconcerningLitteringandDisposalofRefuseprohibits“throwingordroppingofoffensivematterintostreets,publicplaces,riversandotherplaces,”including“noxiousliquid,”i.e.urine.TheNewYorkAdministrativeCode’ssectiononlitteringsimilarlydeclaresthatnoswill,brine,offensiveanimalmatter,noxiousliquid,orotherfilthymatterofanykindshouldbeonanystreetorpublicplace.28
Jaywalking
ListedunderSection1152oftheNewYorkStateVehicleandTrafficLaw,nopedestriancancrossaroadwayintersectiondiagonallyunlessauthorizedbyofficialtraffic-controldevicesandcanonlycrossinaccordancewithofficialtraffic-controlcrossingmovements.29
DisorderlyConductListedunderArticle240.20oftheNewYorkPenalLaw.Apersonisguiltyofdisorderlyconductwhen,withintenttocausepublicinconvenience,annoyance,oralarm,
OpenAlcoholContainer
ListedinSection10-125sub(b)oftheNewYorkAdministrativeCodeasaviolationpunishablebyafineofupto$25orimprisonmentofuptofivedays,orbyboth.Thelawprohibitsconsumptionofalcoholinpublic,includinganystreet,sidewalk,parkingarea,shoppingarea,playground,park,orbeachlocatedwithinthecity.Thelawprohibitsnotonlytheactiveconsumptionofanalcoholicbeverage,butalsothemerepossessionofanalcoholicbeverageoropencontainerwithintenttoconsume.30
LooseCigarettes ListedunderSection1814oftheNewYorkTaxLaw,itisamisdemeanortosellcigaretteswithoutapropertaxstamp.1
TintedWindowsListedunderSection375(12-a)oftheNewYorkStateVehicleandTrafficLaw.Windshieldsorfrontsidewindowscancarrynomorethana70%tint.31
DisobeyingTraffic-ControlDevices
ListedunderSection1110(a)oftheNewYorkStateVehicleandTrafficLaw.Everypersonmustobeytheinstructionsofanyofficialtrafficcontroldeviceunlessotherwisedirectedbyatrafficorpolice
10
officer.32MTAViolationsandArrests:33
UndertheNewYorkCityTransitRulesofConduct,aviolationmayeitherbereferredtotheTransitAdjudicationBureau(TAB)fora$100fine,ortotheCriminalCourtfora$25fineora
prisonsentenceofupto10days.HerearesomecommonMTAviolationsandarrests.PaymentofFareandAccesstoAuthority
Facilities
ListedunderSection1050.4.NoPersonisAllowedtoenteratransitfacilitywithoutpaymentoftheappropriatefares
DisorderlyConduct
ListedunderSection1050.7.Nopersonshall,inanyfacility:litter,dumpgarbage,liquidsorothermatter;smokeorcarryanopenflameorlightedmatch,cigar,orcigarette;sleepordozewheresuchactivitymaybehazardoustootherpeopleorinterferewiththeoperationofthetransitsystemorthecomfortofitspassengers;conducthimselfinanymannerwhichmaycauseannoyance,alarmorinconveniencetoareasonableperson;occupymorethanoneseatwhentodosowouldinterferewiththeoperationofthetransitsystemorthecomfortofotherpassengers;placehisorherfootonaseat;commitanyactwhichmaycauseharmtooneselfofanyotherperson
RestrictedAreasandActivities
ListedunderSection1050.9.Nopersoncanattempttoenterintoanyareanotopentothepublicincludingoperator’scabs,conductor’scabs,andotherprivateareas.Nopersoncanenterorleaveasubwaycarexceptthroughtheentrancesandexistsprovidedforthatpurpose.
11
RelevantCharts
1.NewYorkCityPoliceDepartmentMovingViolations:December2015:
12
2.TransitAdjudicationBureau:2015Summonses:
13
EndNotes 1 Police Reform Organizing Project. Nearly 2,000,000 Per Year Punitive Interactions Between the NYPD and New
Yorkers. New York City, 2015. 2 NYPD. Moving Violations. 2015. New York City. 3 New York State Division of Criminal Justice Statistics. Adult Arrests. 2015. New York City. 4 NYPD. Criminal Court Summonses. 2007-2015. New York City. 5 We calculated this figure by adding the estimated number of NYPD arrests for non-finger printable misdemeanors to the number of NYPD misdemeanor arrests reported by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, which does not include arrests for non-finger printable offenses in its reports. 6 New York State Division of Criminal Justice Statistics. New York City Juvenile Justice Profile. 2016. New York
City. 7 NYPD. The Stop, Question and Frisk Data. 2015. New York City. 8 Received from the Transit Adjudication Bureau. 9 Baruch College Zicklin School of Business. New York City (NYC) Population Estimates By Age, Mutually
Exclusive Race and Hispanic Origin, and Sex. New York City. 10 NYCLU. "Testimony Before City Council Public Safety & Courts and Legal Services Committees On Summons
Court Operations and Impact | New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) - American Civil Liberties Union of New York State." New York Civil Liberties Union. Web. <http://www.nyclu.org/content/testimony-city-council-public-safety-courts-and-legal-services-committees-summons-court-oper>.
11 Bratton, William J. Crime and Enforcement Activity in New York City. 2015. 16. 12 Bratton, William J. Crime and Enforcement Activity in New York City. 2015. 15. 13 Goldstein, Joseph. "Sniff Test Does Not Prove Public Drinking, a Judge Rules." The New York Times. The New
York Times, 14 June 2012. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/15/nyregion/sniff-test-doesnt-prove-public-drinking-judge-says.html?_r=0>.
14 Police Reform Organizing Project. Over 1 Millions Dollars a Day. New York City, 2014. 15 Bratton, William J. Broken Windows and Quality-of-Life Policing in New York City. New York City: NYPD,
2015. 16 NYPD. Collisions and Summonses. 2015. New York City. 17 Peters, Mark G., and Philip Eure K. Using Data from Lawsuits and Legal Claims Involving NYPD to Improve
Policing. Rep. New York City: New York City Department of Investigation, 2015. 18 Brown, Stephen Rex. "EXCLUSIVE: NYPD Accused of Destroying Summons Quota Evidence." NY Daily
News., 06 July 2015. Web. <http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-nypd-accused-destroying-summons-info-article-1.2282345>.
19 Ryley, Sarah. "EXCLUSIVE: NYC Looks to Decriminalize Minor Offenses." NY Daily News., 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/city-council-decriminalize-host-offenses-article-1.2190943>.
20 Data Received from New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services 21 New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. General Provisions.New York City. 22 "Offenses Involving Marihuana." New York State Law.
<http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article221.htm?zoom_highlight=marijuana%2Boffense> 23 "Burglary and Related Offenses." New York State Law. <http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/%20article140.htm>. 24 "Offenses Relating to Theft." New York State Law.
<http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article165.htm?zoom_highlight=theft>. 25 "File #: Int 0769-2015." The New York City Council. N.p., 28 Apr. 2015.
<http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2271077&GUID=8122DA36-91B6-469D-BC99-A1AF16FA2B82>.
26 "Larceny." New York State Law. <http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article155.htm?zoom_highlight=larceny>. 27 Summary Listing of Bicycle Laws, Rules & Regulations. Publication. New York City: Department of
Transportation. 28 New York City Department of Health. Littering and Disposal of Refuse. New York City Health Code. New York
City. 29"Pedestrian's Rights and Duties." New York State Law. <http://ypdcrime.com/vt/article27.htm>.
14
30 "2006 New York Code: Consumption Of Alcohol On Streets Prohibited." Justia Law.
http://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2006/new-york-city-administrative-code-new/adc010-125_10-125.html.
31 "Equipment of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles." New York State Law. <http://ypdcrime.com/vt/article9.htm#t375>.
32 Ibid. 33 "Rules of Conduct and Fines." Mta.info. Transit Adjudication Bureau.
<http://web.mta.info/nyct/rules/TransitAdjudicationBureau/rules.htm>.