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>.