Stop-and-Frisk Takes Another Legal Hit

Stop-and-Frisk practice has recently taken another legal hit today, as federal judge, Shira A. Scheindlin ruled that the stop-and-frisk tactics of New York Police Department to have violated the constitutional rights of New Yorkers. Judge Scheindlin ruled that police officers have for years been systematically stopping innocent people without objective reason to suspect them of wrongdoing. Judge Scheindlin has found the program demonstrates a widespread disregard for the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. In addition, it also found violations with the 14th Amendment.

Judge Scheindlin of Federal District Court in Manhattan has designated an outside lawyer, Peter L. Zimroth, to monitor the Police Department’s compliance with the Constitution. Mr. Zimroth is a partner in the New York office of Arnold & Porter LLP. The ruling, in Floyd v. City of New York follows a two month non-jury trial over the department’s stop-and-frisk practices earlier this year.

[New York Times]

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Featured image courtesy of [Debra Sweet via Flickr]

Ashley Powell

Ashley Powell is a founding member of Law Street Media, and its original Lead Editor. She is a graduate of The George Washington University. Contact Ashley at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.