Police Misconduct Secrecy

In June 2020, amidst a global outpouring of protest demanding action in support of racial justice and police transparency and accountability, the New York State Legislature demonstrated bold and historic leadership in repealing Section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law (50-a) – the most restrictive police secrecy law in the country. 50-a had allowed police departments to hide records of abusive officers and sweep under the rug their failures to take discipline and misconduct investigations seriously.

S.4117-B / A.2074-C would undermine the Legislature’s historic achievement and reimpose a veil of secrecy over a vast swath of police discipline and misconduct records. This bill is a betrayal of every New Yorker who, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, demanded the bare minimum when it comes to transparency and oversight of law enforcement. The NYCLU strongly opposes this dangerous assault on open government and transparency and urges the Legislature to reject it