New York State Defender Association v. New York State Police (Seeking access to NY State Police policy on taping interrogations)

State Supreme Court, Albany County, Index No. 2465-10 (direct) On April 16, 2010, the NYCLU, on behalf of the New York State Defenders Association, filed suit against the New York State Police in Albany Supreme Court, seeking the disclosure of documents related to the videotaping and/or audiotaping of suspect interrogations. The NYCLU supports the videotaping of suspect interrogations as both as a procedural protection for suspects and as a way to identify, and make subject to discipline, abusive police officers.

The NYCLU had previously sent Freedom of Information Law requests to dozens of police departments statewide, seeking information about whether police videotape suspect interrogations and, if so, what procedures govern said videotaping. While the vast majority of departments willingly disclosed their policies and procedures, the state police refused, citing the law enforcement exception to FOIL. On June 22, 2010, the State Police produced the policies the NYCLU sought.