Bill > S01406

This bill establishes a new special prosecutor position specifically dedicated to investigating and prosecuting deaths of unarmed civilians caused by police officers in New York State. The governor will appoint this prosecutor within 30 days of the act's effective date, with the appointment subject to senate confirmation and lasting for a three-year term. The special prosecutor can only be removed for serious reasons such as permanent disability, gross inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, felony conviction, or moral turpitude. This prosecutor will have full-time, exclusive responsibility for investigating police-involved civilian deaths and will possess the powers of an assistant attorney general. Their jurisdiction will supersede that of local county district attorneys in such cases, meaning they will have primary authority to investigate and potentially prosecute these incidents. The special prosecutor is required to conduct comprehensive, independent investigations, including gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing reports and recordings. They must also submit annual reports to the governor, attorney general, and legislature detailing their work, and provide specific reports when declining to present cases to a grand jury or when a grand jury declines to issue an indictment. The bill aims to create a more transparent and independent process for investigating potential police misconduct resulting in civilian deaths.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1406