The controversial stop-and-frisk policy that led some to file excessive force claims in New York City is now no longer in effect and-as data shows-did not produce the result intended. New evidence collected both before and after New York City instituted that policing policy shows that crime levels were not affected. Indeed, the Washington Post analyzed the number of felonies for an extended period that bookended the now-defunct policy and found that declines showed “… no consistent correlation…”
The number of felony crimes in New York City between the years of 2002 and 2013 did decline, but not due to stop-and-frisk. Indeed, felony rates have continued to fall even after a federal judge deemed the policy unconstitutional and a violation of every New Yorker’s civil rights in 2013.
However, what the policy did do is highlight the indifference of NYC’s police force and the excessive tactics that officers employed-disproportionately against people of color.
Indeed, multiple studies of the individuals who were stopped under the policy and the neighborhoods in which the highest numbers of incidents were recorded showed a bias-conscious or not-against lower income individuals and people of color. While this differentiation in itself isn’t a violation of an individual’s civil rights, the fact that NYPD officers were not only given permission to but expected to stop and search individuals without just cause or warrants were civil rights violations in New York City.
However, it’s the excessive force used in stop-and-frisk cases in New York City that really raised public attention. Multiple individuals were detained without evidence of wrongdoing resulting in no charges being filed against them. Some of these detainments resulted in injuries to innocent people and claims that NYPD officers acted with undue aggression and unnecessary violence.
If you’ve been injured by police officers or suspect that your rights have been violated, contact an experienced civil rights attorney in New York City. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 to speak about your case confidentially today.