Judge Rules That NYC’s Stop-and-Frisk Violates Rights, Orders Monitor

A federal judge ruled on Monday that the New York City Police Department's Stop-and-Frisk policy unlawfully targeted people on the basis of race.

By Jamilah King Aug 12, 2013

A federal judge ruled on Monday that the New York City Police Department’s Stop-and-Frisk policy unlawfully targeted people on the basis of race and that an independent monitor must oversee reforms of the practice.

U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin in Manhattan was careful to also say that she wasn’t ordering a wholesale end to stop-and-frisk. As the New York Times reports:

Judge Scheindlin also ordered a number of other remedies, including a pilot program in which officers in at least five precincts across the city will wear body-worn cameras in an effort to record street encounters. She also ordered a "joint remedial process" — in essence, a series of community meetings — to solicit public input on how to reform stop-and-frisk.

The ruling came after a federal class action lawsuit was brought against the NYPD because of the practice, leading to a nine-week trial that ended on May 20.

David Floyd was the lead plaintiff in that lawsuit and spoke to Colorlines.com last spring. You can watch video of that interview below.