Thousands of New Yorkers responded to the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 by taking to the streets to protest police brutality and racist police misconduct. Ironically, the NYPD's response to those demonstrations is itself the subject of at least 146 accusations of...
Police Brutality
Is it legal to record police misconduct?
Police officers must respect your rights even if they suspect you have committed a crime. So if law enforcement mistreats you, it is natural to be angry and confused. You may believe you will never secure justice for what has happened to you. However, thanks to modern...
What is the Police Accountability Act?
New York Attorney General Letitia James is pushing for new legislation in New York that will help cut down on instances of police brutality. The Police Accountability Act is in the state Senate committee. James announced the legislation on May 21, 2021. It is slowly...
A closer look at New York’s Police Brutality Act
Many observers tout New York's passage of the Police Brutality Act as the most far-reaching tool for force reform in the country. The legislation would lower the standard needed to prosecute police officers while requiring officers to use force only as a last resort....
Understand common encounters with law enforcement
Encounters with law enforcement officers can be uncomfortable, especially if you do not know why they stopped you. How do you know if an officer's behavior is standard procedure or out of line? Understanding basic facts about stopping and questioning could help you...
Can reform end police brutality?
Reports of deaths caused by law enforcement are hard on everyone, but when the incident is preventable and due to abuse by the officers, it becomes a serious concern. To help combat police brutality issues, New York is trying to create reforms. The New York Attorney...
How can you protect yourself during an arrest?
Even if authorities suspect you committed a crime, you still have rights. You deserve to receive fair, responsible and objective treatment. Knowing how to respond in the often-tense moments during an arrest can help you protect yourself. If you experience illegal or...
Lawmakers sue officers who used bicycles as weapons
In the past few years, there has been no shortage of headlines about police brutality in New York and across the country. While many incidents of police misconduct involve aggressive arrests and improper discharge of firearms, police brutality may come in other forms....
Suing law enforcement: 3 Recent examples of police brutality
In the United States, police brutality has been a documented problem for countless citizens for decades. Although some laws have changed and situations can differ, excessive force, unlawful killings and racial abuse still remain persistent problems throughout police...
What is police brutality?
The term “police brutality” shows up in a variety of formats, from everything including entertainment to newscasts. However, understanding what this term actually means is paramount when dealing with the legal system in the United States. It is difficult to determine...