New York's Freedom Of Information Law Protects The Public's Right To Be Informed Of And Review Governmental Decision-Making

Over the last several decades, New York, like the country at large, has experienced a cycle of unconstitutional police abuses and incidents of police violence, a systemic lack of meaningful and timely accountability for the perpetrators of police abuses, and resulting public outrage. The increased availability of video footage, often from bystanders and those who obverse and document police misconduct, has made the public more aware of incidents of police abuse of authority, excessive force, and unjust killings by police nationally and locally. In the aftermath of the deaths of individuals like Ramarley Graham, Shantel Davis, Eric Garner, and many others, the systemic failures of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) to hold officers accountable when they unjustly kill New Yorkers has become increasingly clear. The amici present this brief to emphasize the importance of transparency in promoting accountability and implementing appropriate reform.  Read More