The Special Victims Division (SVD) of the New York City Police Department is the subject of a civil pattern or practice inquiry, the Justice Department stated today (NYPD).
Whether the SVD practices gender-biased policing as a pattern or practice will be determined through the investigation.
The investigation will include a thorough examination of the policies, practices, and training for SVD investigations of crimes involving sexual assault, including how SVD interacts with victims and witnesses, gathers evidence, and concludes investigations; any actions taken by NYPD to address shortcomings in its handling of sexual assault crimes; how SVD allocates staffing and other resources; and the services and support provided to survivors of sexual assault.
Justice Department representatives will speak with community organizations and the general public as part of this investigation to find out about their experiences with SVD.
Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, and NYC Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix were informed in advance of the announcement by Justice Department authorities, and all three have agreed to assist the inquiry.
According to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, police departments should conduct thorough, trauma-informed, and victim-centered investigations into sexual assault.
“We find strong cause to investigate whether the NYPD’s Special Victims Division participates in a pattern or practice of gender-biased policing based on material supplied to the Justice Department.
Investigations into sexual assault that are constitutionally compliant encourage community confidence, increase public safety, and promote responsibility.
According to U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, “Respectful, thorough, and complete investigations of sexual assaults are important to a well-functioning judicial system.”
“Over the past few months, we have received alarming information about historical concerns pertaining to the manner in which the Special Victims Division has conducted its investigations for many years from a variety of sources.
Our investigation aims to make sure that sexual assault victims in New York City are treated fairly and justly moving forward and that those who commit sexual violence are held accountable as a result.
We value the actions already made by the NYPD to address these issues.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York stated that victims of sex crimes “deserve the same thorough and objective examinations of their cases that the NYPD offers to other categories of crime.”
Similarly, the public’s safety depends on the tenacious and effective pursuit of sexual assault offenders who are not subject to gender bias or discriminatory treatment.
To evaluate the NYPD’s practices in this regard, we are looking forward to engaging with our partners at EDNY and the Civil Rights Division.
According to material provided to the department, SVD has had long-standing flaws that have prevented it from providing survivors and the public with the fast, thorough, and efficient investigations necessary to ensure public safety.
These allegations include failing to follow fundamental investigative procedures and instead humiliating, abusing, and re-traumatizing survivors while conducting inquiries.
The investigation is being carried out in accordance with the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which forbids state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives people of rights guaranteed by the Constitution or federal law.
The statute enables the Justice Department to pursue civil legal action to address such misbehaviour.
The agency will evaluate how law enforcement actions comply with both the Safe Streets Act of 1968 and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.