Brennan Center: Monitor Would Work in Tandem with Inspector General

Today, federal judge Shira A. Scheindlin ruled that the New York City Police Department’s stop-and-frisk program violates the United States Constitution. The judge created a court-appointed monitor to oversee reforms to the practice. Michael Price, Counsel in the Liberty and National Security program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, released the following statement:

“The court-appointed monitor will be specifically focused on ensuring the city’s compliance with the court’s decision and will serve an important but distinct role from the Inspector General proposed by the New York City Council. An Inspector General will provide ongoing oversight that is not limited to a particular policy or practice and will conduct investigations and make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council, not a federal judge. Major cities, including Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Oakland, and Washington, D.C., have all been subject to oversight from court-appointed monitors in addition to existing independent oversight bodies. The stop-and-frisk monitor is not a substitute for an Inspector General, but together the roles will work to ensure that the NYPD operates fairly and effectively, while keeping New Yorkers safe.”

The Brennan Center has advocated for an inspector general for the NYPD to ensure transparency, protect civil liberties and cooperatively work with the department to effectuate change.

For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Desiree Ramos Reiner at 646–292–8321 or desiree.reiner@nyu.edu.