Arrested New Yorkers Still Detained Longer Than Law Allows, Study Finds

Responding to new data that shows that New York City routinely fails to meet its legal obligation to arraign or release arrestees within 24 hours of arresting them, political leaders, civil rights activists and community members will rally on the steps of City Hall tomorrow to urge the City Council to pass the “Charge or Release” Bill.

The new study, which the NYCLU will release tomorrow at the rally, is entitled “Justice Delayed, Justice Denied: A Comprehensive Study of Arrest-to-Arraignment Times in New York City.” Analyzing 13 months of data, the study finds that the police detain thousands of New Yorkers each month for 30, 40, or even 50 hours without arraignment. Each of these detainments violates a 1991 ruling in which the Court of Appeals held that the NYPD and other city agencies have a legal obligation to present people for arraignment within 24 hours of their arrest. The data also shows that African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately impacted by prolonged detention.

Charge or Release is a City Council bill that aims to correct this persistent civil rights violation. The bill was introduced during the previous Council session with strong support from the public, lawmakers, and community groups. In light of new data that shows that the bill is still necessary, tomorrow’s rally will urge the City Council’s new leadership to reintroduce it and to shepherd it through the legislative process.

WHAT: Lunchtime Rally for the Charge or Release Bill

WHO: Donna Lieberman, NYCLU
Udi Ofer, NYCLU
Letitia James, Council Member
Anabel Palma, Council Member
Traci Douglas, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem
Charles Billups, NYPD officer, Chairperson, Grand Council of Guardians
Kenneth Schaeffer, Met Council on Housing
Jim Rogers, President, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys UAW Local 2325
Monique Washington, Harlem Local Organizing Committee
Heather Woodfield, Democracy for New York City

WHERE: City Hall Steps; New York City, New York

WHEN: Tuesday, January 31st, 12.30pm