Monthly Archives: October 2019
New York City Makes It Illegal to Discriminate Against Immigrants
In a somewhat unprecedented move, in early October, New York City moved to make and act on discrimination against immigrants illegal by declaring new guidance on an existing law, which dictates that it is illegal to use the term “illegal alien” to “demean, humiliate, or harass” someone in the workplace. The new guidance makes… Read More »
New York Votes to Officially Close Rikers Island Jails, But What’s Next?
In late October, New York City Council made its vote to have Rikers Island closed as of 2026, and replaced with four new jails located in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens, taking the inmate population down from approximately 10,000 to 3,000. Described by some as a “symbol of brutality and inhumanity” that “[never]… Read More »
New York’s “Crimes of Poverty”
In just the first three months of 2017, the New York Police Department arrested more than 4,500 people for fare evasion and 90 percent of them were black or Hispanic. In 2016, young black men between the ages of 16 and 36 made up half of all fare evasion arrests even though they represent… Read More »
Legal Marijuana In New York: Questions Remaining
A number of questions remain concerning the decriminalization (and legalization) of marijuana in New York. Linked to these questions are those related to the state’s approach to CBD products and where things are headed in terms of past drug infractions. Currently, there is a significant amount of uncertainty concerning all of these issues, which… Read More »
Trial of Officer Who Shot Innocent After Mistakenly Entering His Apartment Thinking It Was Her Own Places Unique Interpretation of Castle Doctrine in Question
The trial of Amber Guyger–the police officer who shot and killed an innocent man (Botham Jean) after mistakenly entering his apartment, thinking it was her own and that he was an intruder–has garnered national headlines in October. While there have been a number of ‘stand your ground’- (or self-defense) related homicide trials around the… Read More »
New York’s New Sex Abuse Law Brings Forth Hundreds of New Allegations
New York’s new sex abuse law has already brought forth hundreds of new lawsuits brought by victims seeking to use the legal system to address the damage done, even if it was many years before. The law – the New York Child Victims Act – created a one-year period whereby victims could come forth… Read More »
New York Debates Repealing Ban On Conversion Therapy Due to Civil Rights Lawsuit
New York City Council is currently considering repealing a 2017 law (2018/22, the “Counseling Censorship Law”) that banned conversion therapy, which involves attempting to change someone’s sexual orientation and gender identity. The proposal stems from a looming lawsuit that could have nationwide negative implications if the court sides against the city, and which has… Read More »
New York City Judge Recommends Criminal Penalties for Judge Who Threatens to Deport Tenant
In September, for the first time, a New York judge recommended that the landlord who threatened to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) be assessed a criminal fine for violating anti-discrimination and human rights laws. Still, according to reports, there are additional legal proceedings that must occur before the judge’s recommendation goes into effect;… Read More »
Incident Involving New York Teen Charged in Fatal Stabbing Raises Questions About Criminal Culpability of Witnesses
News headlines have been dominated by the story of an 18-year-old suspect here in New York who was recently arrested and charged in a stabbing death, and was reportedly surrounded by a crowd of 50 to 70 students during the incident, all of whom were allegedly taking a cell phone video of the attack… Read More »