According to the new law, adopted Thursday by the city Council, now the Department of the new York police Department (NYPD) will have to publicly disclose information about how much cash and property seized from citizens.
The bill, which also was supported by mayor bill De Blasio, forcing the NYPD to compile and publicize reports of ownership received by the practice, called civil forfeiture. The new law was a reaction to claims from legal aid groups, who accused the police that they hide from the public seizure data on the amounts that can be dozens of millions of dollars a year.
«The process of civil forfeiture has deprived many needy citizens of their property without due process and in violation of their constitutional rights. This first-of-its kind bill on transparency that sheds light on the reasons why the NYPD seized someone’s property, regardless of whether the income received from the confiscation of property or a person was able to return to their property,» — says human rights activist Richie Torres.
Now the Department will have to monitor and publish annual reports on the value of the property and money seized at each site.
