Pro Bono News

NYPD Changes How it Applies Loitering Law as it Settles Legal Aid Lawsuit Over Arrests of Transgender People, Women Accused of Prostitution (NY)

Wednesday, June 05, 2019

NYPD Changes How it Applies Loitering Law as it Settles Legal Aid Lawsuit Over Arrests of Transgender, Women Accused of Prostitution

"The NYPD is changing the way it applies the loitering law after it was sued for illegally profiling and arresting women, transgender people and others on prostitution charges that were based largely on looks, the Daily News has learned.

The Legal Aid Society sued the department on behalf of people who asserted that police had arrested and detained them for loitering for prostitution based on personal appearance and then claimed they were working as prostitutes. One cop admitted in a deposition that he would look for “Adam’s apples” when considering whether to detain a suspected prostitute.

“The NYPD for decades has profiled and arrested women of color – especially those who identify as transgender – simply for how they dressed, who they spoke to, and where they socialized,” said Tina Luongo, attorney-in-charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “This settlement provides our plaintiffs and others some justice."..."

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