June 8: Vertical Patrol in NYC Public Housing - Is It Effective? Fair? Appropriate?"
On Thursday, June 8 at 6:00 PM, NYCLA's Civil Rights and Liberties Committee is presenting a free public forum, "Vertical Patrol in NYC Public Housing - Is It Effective? Fair? Appropriate?," which explores the practice of police officers systematically and methodically canvassing buildings - roof tops, stairwells, lobbies and basements - NYC public housing complexes. As part of vertical patrol, the officers stop and systematically question whomever they encounter in a building - residents and nonresidents alike - on suspicion of trespassing. From 2003 through March 2010, studies conducted in precincts with large clusters of public housing indicate that up to 30 percent of the stops conducted were done on suspicion of trespassing. Two percent of those stops yielded drugs or other contraband.
Forum speakers are: Christopher Dunn, Esq., associate legal director, New York Civil Liberties Union; William Gibney, Esq., director of special litigation, The Legal Aid Society; and Johanna Steinberg, Esq., assistant counsel, Criminal Justice Practice, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
The forum is co-sponsored by NYCLA's Criminal Justice Section, Justice Center and Minorities and the Law Committee.
RSVP: dlamb@nycla.org