For Immediate Release: December 9, 2014

Contact: Gary Ginsburg | ginsburg@nysenate.gov | 518-455-2415

Senate Democratic Conference Announces Reforms To Criminal

Justice System
(Albany, NY) The Senate Democratic Conference today announced the introduction of
legislation to reform the states criminal justice system and address incidents of police-caused
fatalities. This initiative was introduced following a grand jurys decision not to bring charges
against a police officer who caused the death of an unarmed civilian and will implement a
permanent Office of Special Investigation to review similar cases in the future. The Senate
Democratic Conference also issued a call for funds to be provided in the 2015-2016 State Budget
for law enforcement institutions to invest in wearable video cameras.
The sad reality is many New Yorkers currently do not believe that all state residents are treated
equally within our criminal justice system, Democratic Conference Leader Andrea StewartCousins said. Reforming the criminal justice system to ensure that unarmed civilians are better
protected is a common sense way to restore New Yorkers trust in our public protection
institutions. I urge my colleagues in state government to join with the Senate Democratic
Conference is supporting this legislation.
Legislation sponsored by Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, will create
the Office of Special Investigation to automatically review any criminal offense committed by a
police officer that results in the death of an unarmed civilian. Additionally, New Yorkers will be
able to petition this office to take over investigations in special circumstances.
The Senate Democratic Conference also announced that it will ask Governor Cuomo to provide
approximately $75 million in the 2015-2016 Executive Budget for law enforcement agencies to
purchase and utilize wearable video cameras. These state funds would be utilized to reimburse
local and state law enforcement organizations who purchase and utilize these body cameras.
Body cameras, when utilized properly, have already been shown to help facilitate more positive
interactions between law enforcement officers and the public they serve, Senate Democratic
Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. We look forward to working with
Governor Cuomo to ensure that funds are provided in the Executive Budget, and the enacted
2015-2016 State Budget, so public protection agencies throughout New York State will be
reimbursed for investing in these common sense law enforcement tools.
The initiatives advanced by Senate Democratic leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and members of
the Senate Democratic Conference are intended to address the grave concerns many New
Yorkers feel regarding the criminal justice system and the perception that the system does not

treat all New Yorkers equally. Implementing these common sense proposals will help heal the
deep divisions in New York State and return the publics trust in their law enforcement
institutions.
Senate Democratic Conference Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, Our states criminal
justice system must have the full confidence of the public it serves, yet at this moment in history
it does not. The proposals advanced by Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins represent the
best hope for permanent reform and the return of trust to our justice system. I look forward to
working with my Senate Democratic colleagues and all state leaders to achieve the progress that
will ensure the system works for everyone.
Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Ranking Member on the Senates Crime Victims, Crime
and Correction Committee, said, Our criminal justice system relies on the public having faith
that all New Yorkers will be treated equally and fairly by those whom we entrust with our
protection. Without that trust residents and law enforcement personnel are placed in greater risk
and negative attitudes are allowed to fester. As elected officials we have a responsibility to
reform our criminal justice system and rebuild the trust that has eroded so that all New Yorkers
can be confident that their public servants and protection agencies will treat them with the
respect they deserve.
Senator Gustavo Rivera said, The decision by the grand jury to not indict in the case of Eric
Garner has brought the shortfalls of our criminal justice system to the forefront and further
damaged the publics trust in our criminal justice system. In an effort to remove any doubt from
the process and strengthen this system, I have long been an advocate for the need to give the
Attorney General, an impartial and independent prosecutor, the authority to investigate cases
involving police misconduct, including those resulting in the death of an unarmed individual.
The actions proposed today by the Democratic Conference serve as initial steps in ensuring that
the various levels of our criminal justice system have the necessary tools and procedures to
ensure all New Yorkers are truly treated equally under the law.
Senator Neil Breslin said, We must address the serious concerns felt by many state residents
that our criminal justice system does not treat all New Yorkers equally and with the respect they
deserve. Providing common sense solutions to reform our criminal justice system will help
rebuild the trust that has eroded due to recent events. I look forward to working with my
colleagues in state government to address New Yorkers concerns with the criminal justice
system and implement these legislative initiatives.
Senator Martin Malav Dilan said, There is no question the increase in the frequency of
citizen deaths at the hands of law enforcement officials warrant greater oversight. We must give
justice every opportunity to be served and giving the Attorney General purview over these cases
is a step in that direction.
Senator Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Senate Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus, said, In the
wake of a verdict that is heartbreaking and unacceptable to communities of color, we must
channel our outrage toward meaningful reform. We must bring systemic change to New Yorks

criminal justice system this legislation is a critical step forward in the fight to ensure that all
lives matter.
Senator Brad Hoylman said, A Staten Island grand jurys recent failure to bring an indictment
after the tragic death of Eric Garner has highlighted serious flaws in our criminal justice system.
Leader Stewart-Cousins badly needed legislation would empower the Attorney Generals office
to investigate future criminal proceedings brought against police officers whose actions lead to
the death of unarmed civilians. I strongly support this bill because it would help ensure the
integrity of our criminal justice system at a time when too many New Yorkers are
understandably losing faith in it.
Senator Liz Krueger said, Recent events have forced many New Yorkers to question whether
our justice system can achieve fair outcomes in these cases. Repairing the relationship between
our police officers and the communities they serve will take a great deal of time and effort, but
we can and must act immediately to restore confidence that police officers are accountable under
the law.
Senator Velmanette Montgomery said, The application of the law must not vary from county
to county, or reflect political concerns of prosecutors and that is why implementing an Office of
Special Investigation within the New York Attorney Generals office is a common sense way to
reform our criminal justice system. All New Yorkers deserve to be confident that they will be
treated equally and with respect by their public protection and law enforcement agencies. I look
forward to working with my colleagues in the State Senate and Assembly to reform and restore
the publics trust in our criminal justice system.
Senator Bill Perkins said, I am proud to stand with Leader Stewart-Cousins and my fellow
members of the Democratic Conference as we call for two fundamental and common-sense
reforms to our criminal justice system. From Ferguson to Staten Island, our communities are
crying out for justice and rightly demanding transformative and concrete solutions to a crisis
born of police misperceptions and institutional racism. The creation of the Office of Special
Investigation coupled with incentivizing localities to purchase and employ body cameras are two
necessary steps towards ensuring true justice for those who have been senselessly killed at the
hands of police officers while concurrently assuring all residents of our City and State that
everyone has an equal right to live, breathe and make their lives matter.
Senator James Sanders Jr. said, Recently in New York and throughout our nation, Americans
have become dismayed by the no-indictment grand jury outcomes of the Eric Garner and
Michael Brown cases. Central to the success of our criminal justice system, is the restoration of
public confidence in our judicial system to provide blind justice. We must implement reforms
such as appointing special prosecutors to handle cases of police killings of unarmed civilians and
police body cameras. It is time that New York takes a serious look at criminal justice reform to
ensure that black lives matter and that all citizens' civil rights are protected.
Senator Jose Serrano said, The publics confidence must be restored in our criminal justice
systems ability to fairly investigate and prosecute deadly incidents involving the police. The
introduction of this legislation will reform this process and allow for greater transparency and

fairness. This is an important step toward creating greater equality and justice. I am proud to
stand with my colleagues in the Senate Democratic Conference as we fight to ensure integrity in
our criminal justice system.
Senator Daniel Squadron said, Faith in the fairness of our criminal justice system is
fundamental. But the last days have been a vivid reminder that there are too many reasons to
doubt it, at each step, and that's why we need a comprehensive review of the system and real
reform. These steps are an important beginning. I thank leader Stewart-Cousins, and urge the
Senate to take up these measures.
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, After the recent deaths of unarmed citizens at the hands of
police officers, I joined many of my fellow Americans in taking a long, hard look at the
relationship between law enforcement and the communities they are meant to serve. We must
now confront the painful truth that the simmering tension between law enforcement and some
communitiesnow boiled overis untenable, unsafe and unjust. The measures we are
introducing today answer a call for transparency that many, from ordinary citizens to President
Obama, believe are necessary for restoring public trust in our law enforcement agencies. This is
an important step in an ongoing conversation about our criminal justice system and one that must
continue because all lives matter.
Senator-elect Jesse Hamilton III said, The measures we introduce today serve as but one step
in a larger process. This process involves continuing to listen to the anguished pleas of families,
protesters, and communities that feel that the justice system flagrantly failed. Together, we begin
a journey that will take serious reflection, searching questions, and a forthright willingness to
take onboard criticism. We need to be unafraid of that journey, which will require us to examine
our existing system's failings and propose a positive vision for the future. We must commit to
seeing that journey through and pledge to listen with open hearts and minds. Then, decisive
action can occur to make the justice system worthy of the confidence of all New Yorkers.
Senator-elect Marc Panepinto said, The loss of faith in our states criminal justice system
impacts all New Yorkers, upstate and downstate, alike. As an attorney I have dealt with
situations where civilians were severely harmed due to a rogue officers actions and I want to
ensure that similar situations do not happen again. All New Yorkers should have faith in their
law enforcement personnel and a positive relationship between police and the communities they
serve will help reduce incidents and strengthen our society. We have a responsibility to take
decisive actions to restore the publics trust in our criminal justice system and I look forward to
working with my colleagues to ensure we achieve the results New Yorkers demand and
deserve.
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New York State Senate | DemocraticConferenceNews@nysenate.gov | 518-455-2415