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50-a

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Despite initially siding with the police unions and temporarily blocking release, Failla later decided that the release of records should be permitted prior to trial (with the exception of certain minor "technical infractions") and reversed most of the initial order. However, Failla also agreed to
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agreed that the records should be released. The Second Circuit ruling affirmed Failla's order and permitted almost all of the disclosures that the police unions wished to block, while maintaining the exception for technical infractions.
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from the public. Under the former law, any "personnel records" were "confidential and not subject to inspection or review," unless the officer granted permission for their release.
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often goes unpunished and oversight is rare Media organizations complained also that the law created difficulty in investigating police misconduct as well.
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journalism made a total of 600 record requests from 400 police agencies. Only 40 agencies provided records in response to the requests.
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In January 2021, it was reported that police departments had continued to find ways to hide their discipline records. A joint effort by
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On June 10, 2020, the New York State Legislature voted to repeal Section 50-a and on June 12, Governor
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temporarily blocked the release of records covered by the former Section 50-a. Failla issued the
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and wrongdoing from the public and that this contributed to a culture in which misconduct by the
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issued a written statement that "public interest was disserved" by the law. Following the
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for the prosecution in trials. In particular, the law was meant to protect officers from
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The stated rationale for the law was to protect law enforcement officers who served as
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signed an act amending the Civil Rights Law to totally repeal Section 50-a.
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Critics have argued that the law was used to hide records of police
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United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
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staff/christopher-robbins; staff/george-joseph (July 23, 2020).
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maintain the restraining order long enough for the unions to
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unions, citing potential "employment" and "safety" issues.
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United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
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David (October 14, 2016). 70: 62: 54: 44: 37: 23: 261:, Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, and 294:"The law that shields police records, explained" 509:"Pushing for Social Impact During a Pandemic" 8: 226:upon the request of New York City police, 197:police reforms and police accountability 285: 16:New York state law on police misconduct 696:Police misconduct in the United States 191:in many parts of the world, including 20: 629: 627: 109:seeking misconduct records issued by 7: 447: 445: 418: 416: 414: 390:Wykstra, Stephanie (June 16, 2020). 385: 383: 355: 353: 351: 349: 321: 319: 317: 128:signed to repeal the law as part of 117:, saying that it served to preserve 14: 659:Jon Campbell (January 11, 2021). 163:Beginning in 2014, following the 80:New York Civil Rights Law § 50-a 49:New York Civil Rights Law § 50-a 29: 169:New York Communities for Change 146:New York City Police Department 153:New York Civil Liberties Union 1: 177:New York City Bar Association 571:"NY State Senate Bill S8496" 275:California Senate Bill 1421 224:temporary restraining order 132:/Senate Bill A10611/S8496. 124:On June 12, 2020, Governor 727: 366:Columbia Journalism Review 189:large-scale protests began 39:New York State Legislature 691:New York (state) statutes 84:New York Civil Rights Law 28: 706:2020 in New York (state) 130:New York State Assembly 639:www.courthousenews.com 245:In February 2021, the 185:murder of George Floyd 173:Make the Road New York 165:killing of Eric Garner 576:New York State Senate 216:Katherine Polk Failla 115:police accountability 82:was a section of the 711:2020 in American law 701:New York (state) law 214:In July 2020, Judge 119:institutional racism 487:New York Daily News 263:Syracuse University 541:The New York Times 332:Queens Daily Eagle 257:Network New York, 428:Innocence Project 151:According to the 111:defense attorneys 77: 76: 72:Status: Repealed 718: 676: 675: 673: 671: 656: 650: 649: 647: 645: 631: 622: 621: 619: 617: 612:on July 23, 2020 608:. 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June 9, 2020 410: 379: 345: 313: 299:Brooklyn Eagle 284: 282: 279: 278: 277: 270: 267: 242:the decision. 211: 208: 195:, calling for 181:Bill de Blasio 160: 159:Repeal Process 157: 137: 134: 75: 74: 71: 68: 67: 64: 60: 59: 56: 52: 51: 46: 42: 41: 35: 34: 26: 25: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 723: 712: 709: 707: 704: 702: 699: 697: 694: 692: 689: 688: 686: 666: 665:news.wbfo.org 662: 655: 652: 640: 636: 630: 628: 624: 611: 607: 606: 601: 594: 591: 578: 577: 572: 566: 563: 551: 547: 543: 542: 537: 530: 527: 514: 510: 504: 501: 489: 488: 483: 476: 473: 461: 460: 455: 452:Belle, Elly. 448: 446: 442: 429: 425: 419: 417: 415: 411: 399: 398: 393: 386: 384: 380: 368: 367: 362: 356: 354: 352: 350: 346: 334: 333: 328: 322: 320: 318: 314: 301: 300: 295: 289: 286: 280: 276: 273: 272: 268: 266: 264: 260: 256: 251: 248: 243: 241: 235: 233: 229: 225: 221: 217: 209: 207: 205: 200: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 178: 174: 170: 166: 158: 156: 154: 149: 147: 143: 135: 133: 131: 127: 122: 120: 116: 112: 108: 104: 99: 97: 93: 89: 85: 81: 69: 65: 61: 57: 53: 50: 47: 43: 40: 36: 32: 27: 22: 19: 668:. 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Index


New York State Legislature
New York Civil Rights Law § 50-a
New York Civil Rights Law
police officers
firefighters
prison officers
witnesses
subpoenas
defense attorneys
police accountability
institutional racism
Andrew Cuomo
New York State Assembly
misconduct
New York City Police Department
New York Civil Liberties Union
killing of Eric Garner
New York Communities for Change
Make the Road New York
New York City Bar Association
Bill de Blasio
murder of George Floyd
large-scale protests began
in New York
police reforms and police accountability
Andrew Cuomo
Katherine Polk Failla
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
temporary restraining order

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