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Civil Liberties Union
Civil Liberties Union
Manhattan D.A. to Stop Criminally Prosecuting Turnstile Jumping
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. announced today that as of September his office would discontinue criminal prosecution for the low-level misdemeanor offense of “Theft of Services,” otherwise known as turnstile jumping, except where public safety is at issue. His office projected a reduction of 20,000 prosecutions annually.
The following statement is attributable to NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman:
“D.A. Vance’s decision to stop prosecuting turnstile jumping is an important correction to the tarnished legacy of Broken Windows. Minor misdeeds like fare beating shouldn’t result in criminal records, which can upend people’s lives and risk their housing, employment, education and more. Needless prosecutions only weigh down our criminal justice system and hit Black and brown New Yorkers hardest. With the Trump administration determined to use even minor criminal offenses to deport immigrants and fuel a regressive law and order agenda, this move will protect New Yorkers.”