NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CODES
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CORRECTION
NEW YORK STATE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS

NOTICE OF ROUNDTABLE

SUBJECT:
An examination of "stop and frisk" policy and practice.

PURPOSE:
To examine the "stop and frisk" policy and practice in New York City and to consider the impact of such policy and practice on issues ranging from public safety to equal justice.

New York City

Friday
May 18, 2012
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Assembly Hearing Room
250 Broadway, Room 1923, 19th Floor
New York, New York

Participation by Invitation Only

A police officer must have reasonable suspicion that a crime has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur in order to stop and frisk an individual. This type of stop can be an important component of a law enforcement investigation; an accompanying pat-down or body frisk can also be important for the safety of the officer and persons nearby. However, recent reports indicate that the number of individuals stopped and frisked in New York City has increased significantly in recent years. Further, it has been reported that almost 90% of these encounters do not result in an arrest. Published reports as well as community feedback also demonstrate that persons of color and ethnic minorities are disproportionately subject to these stop and frisk procedures. These circumstances call into question the methodology employed by the New York City Police Department to determine when a stop should occur, and which individuals should be subjected to a police pat down.

The Assembly has repeatedly approved legislation that would require all police departments in the state to implement a policy against racial and ethnic profiling, This legislation would also require police departments to maintain data on vehicle and pedestrian stops and make such data available, in order to assess whether a police department is engaging in racial or ethnic profiling.

The purpose of this roundtable discussion is to hear from a variety of knowledgeable sources concerning the current "stop and frisk" policy and practice in New York City, to consider the possible impact of this practice on issues of public safety, and to consider the collateral effects on individuals and families of persons being stopped or detained - sometimes repeatedly -- when the person has not in fact committed a crime.

Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which participants may direct their comments.

Persons wishing to participate at the above roundtable should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

In order to further publicize this roundtable, please inform interested parties and organizations of this upcoming roundtable discussion.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Joseph R. Lentol
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Codes

Jeffrion L. Aubry
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Correction

Karim Camara
Member of Assembly
Chairman
New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus




SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:


PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present comments at the public roundtable on an examination of "stop and frisk" policy and practice are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to:

Dee Levy
Senior Analyst
Assembly Committee on Codes
Alfred E. Smith Building, Suite 1147
80 South Swan Street
Albany, New York 12248
Email: levyd@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4313
Fax: (518) 455-3669
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I plan to attend the following public roundtable on an examination of "stop and frisk" policy and practice to be conducted by the Assembly Committees on Codes and Corrections and the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus on May 18, 2012.
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I plan to participate and make public statement at the roundtable
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:




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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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I would like to be added to the Committees' mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committees' mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




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