Requires the annual reporting of criminal activity on subways

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of this bill amends Section 14-150 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York by requiring the New York City police department to submit to the City Council annually a report detailing the total number of criminal complaints and arrests, categorized by class of crime, for violent felony offenses that occur on subway lines and bus routes operated by the New York City Transit Authority and the Staten Island rapid transit operating authority.

Specifically the report shall detail the following criminal activity:

-- section 70.02 of the Penal Law such as murder, kidnapping, manslaughter, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual conduct against a child, criminal use or sale of a firearm, etc.,

-- assault and related offenses as defined in article one hundred twenty of the Penal Law such as intent to cause physical injury to another,

-- sex offenses as defined in article one hundred thirty of the Penal Law such as sexual misconduct, rape, and criminal sexual acts,

-- disorderly conduct as defined in section 240.20 of the Penal Law such as intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessness, by engaging in fighting or threatening behavior, unreasonable noisemaking, use of abusive or obscene language or gestures,

-- harassment as defined in section 240.25 and 240.26 of the Penal Law such as intentionally following or by engaging in a course of conduct or by repeatedly committing acts which places such person in reasonable fear of physical injury, with intent to annoy or alarm another person by subjecting such person to physical contact, or attempts or threatens to do the same follows a person,

-- aggravated harassment as defined in section 240.30 and 240.31 of the Penal Law such as intent to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm another person either by communicating with a person, attempting to contact, subjecting another person to physical contact, or threatening to do the same because of a belief or perception,

-- offenses against public sensibilities as defined in Article 245 of the Penal Law.

The report shall specify where such criminal conduct has occurred by police precinct, including specific subway line, subway transit division, and bus route operated by the New York City Transit Authority and the Staten Island rapid transit operating authority. Such statistics shall be tabulated on a monthly basis and on an annual basis and shall be maintained and transmitted in an electronic format to the department of records and information services, and be made available to the public via the internet.

Justification

This bill will improve the transparency and accountability of the New York Police Department. It will provide the public information on the location of criminal activity, including sexual harassment, while providing the police department data that will allow them to focus their resources on areas most in need of protection. By requiring that these statistics be updated quarterly, and posted on the internet, the public will be able to monitor the progress in reducing crime in our transit system.

Legislative history

New bill

Fiscal implications

To be determined

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.