The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, local community groups, elected officials, and impacted New Yorkers rallied today on the steps of City Hall to announce a ten-point plan to address the recent deaths in New York City Police Department (NYPD) custody.

The announcement comes in response to a rash of recent deaths, including Legal Aid client Christopher Nieves, 46, who died in August at the Kings County courthouse despite showing signs of illness and repeated attempts by his defense counsel to secure him urgent medical care. Mr. Nieves is one of at least nine people who have lost their lives in NYPD custody this year alone, according to the Department.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters Michael Gerber announced today that the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD will launch an investigation into the recent string of deaths in NYPD custody, as Legal Aid has demanded. 

“The thought of Christopher suffering while waiting to receive medical treatment for hours in a jail cell, before he passed away, breaks my heart,” said Candice Nieves, sister of Christopher Nieves. “No matter the misconceptions about my brother, his life mattered and he didn’t deserve to die! The system failed him! He was my baby brother and I loved him dearly. I wish I could have been there to wrap my arms around him during his last moments, so he could have felt he was loved and cared for. Instead he died on the cold hard jail cell floor, ignored and alone.”

“These deaths are not accidents — they are the direct result of systemic neglect, failed policing practices, and the City’s apathy to care for people in its custody.” said Tina Luongo, Chief Attorney of the Criminal Defense Practice at Legal Aid. “The people and communities we serve have long raised concerns about the dangerous conditions inside NYPD custody, yet the City has failed to respond. Each death is a preventable tragedy, and we urge immediate action on this ten-point plan to help ensure that no more lives are lost.”

The ten points:

• Recognize the crisis of in-custody deaths and end broken windows policing
• Demand NYPD cease the illegal in-custody arrests of low-level offenses
• Request City Council inspections of NYPD central booking
• Create independent EMS staffing in courthouses
• Engage in oversight on suicide prevention and mental health standards
• Empower automatic CCRB investigations of in-custody deaths
• Demand DOI-OIG systemic investigation
• Amend the NYPD Disciplinary Matrix
• Demand Changes from Prosecutors
• Support emergency stop-gap medical request process

For full details on each point in the plan click here.