NCJ Number
97576
Date Published
1984
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This report describes the events leading to hearings held in 1983 by a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee to examine charges of racial discrimination and police misconduct against minority citizens in New York City.
Abstract
On September 19th, the subcommittee received testimony alleging police misconduct from 9 organizations, a New York State Assemblyman, an attorney, a law professor, and 15 persons who claimed to have been victims of police misconduct. Many groups claimed the existence of bias, based largely on race, within the New York Police Department and between the Department and many segments of the community. Much of the testimony was critical of the Civilian Complaint Review Board and of the progress of civil actions against the police. Most organizations and some individuals made recommendations. These included an expanded affirmative action hiring and recruiting program in the police department, reexamination of screening and training of police officers, changes in police approaches and attitudes, and improvements in the Civil Complaint Review Board. Changes at the Federal level were also recommended. One year later, the new police commissioner had made many changes. The subcommittee found that the problem of misconduct had not been treated with adequate seriousness, that racism appeared to be a major factor in alleged police misconduct, that progress had been made in improving community relations, and that much remained to be done. A possible change in Federal law relating to police misconduct is discussed.