POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
As the nation rallies around calls for police reform and accountability, we must listen. New Yorkers are no doubt reminded of local tragedies including the murders of Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, Delrawn Small, Eric Gardner, and so many others. New Yorkers know that our law enforcement officers must be held to the highest standards of accountability. Lucy is committed to doing more than just prosecuting officers who break the law; she is committed to real, transformative change that protects our communities — even when that means limiting police and community interaction by reducing policing in the first place. Sign on if you agree!
As DA, Lucy will be committed to ensure that police work collaboratively with our communities. This starts by narrowing the scope of police interventions to situations that warrant them, is aided by a commitment to only moving forward with cases where a criminal response is just, and is bolstered by a promise to provide accountability when officers violate the laws they are there to enforce.
To foster a new approach to policing, Lucy will:
Support, partner with, and work to expand community-based initiatives that utilize local community members — instead of law enforcement — to respond to and interrupt violence.
Use her platform to advocate for the legislative decriminalization of crimes related to homelessness, poverty, and substance abuse — especially those that are known to result in huge racial disparities in arrests.
Take a proactive role in improving NYPD training and policy to be in line with the Office’s moral and ethical standards and philosophy.
Closely monitor police actions and intervene where there is a high-risk for police misconduct, for example on law enforcement policy around handling protestors.
Ensure a public health approach to public health issues by working with law enforcement, social services, community partners, and public health officials to devise policies and practices for cases that do not fall within the traditional needs of the justice system.
Build on the Office’s existing mechanisms for identifying officers with whom prosecutors should not work because of credibility issues.
To hold police accountable when they create harm, Lucy will:
Thoroughly and independently investigate instances of police misconduct including — but not limited to — excessive force.
Call on the grand jury to publish and release a detailed report including the facts following every serious investigation of police misconduct where the DA’s Office declines to charge. This report should include details about the case and an analysis of why charges were inappropriate.
Communicate clear policies to NYPD about when the DA’s Office will not bring charges in cases based on extensive involvement of officers with histories of serious misconduct.
Establish clear policies that require DAs to review body-worn camera video before bringing charges that are frequently seen in police misconduct cases (e.g. assaulting an officer, resisting arrest).