Disparities in the Criminal Justice System - An ACLU study in New York refutes the U.S. government’s assertion that disparities are related to involvement in crime. Instead, disparities are the result of government policies and unequal treatment of minorities in the criminal justice system. p. 79
Disparities in the Criminal Justice System - Juveniles - New York state confines African-American youth at severely disproportionate rates, and the number of girls incarcerated has increased. Girls in custody at are particularly vulnerable. At Lansing and Tryon, the girls and experience abuse, lack of adequate health/mental health care or education, and have no real system of redress at the facilities. p. 88-90
Capital Punishment -New York’s highest court found that the jury instructions were unconstitutional under the state’s constitution. Since then, there has been a de facto moratorium on the death penalty, but concern about its reinstatement remains. Additionally, defendants convicted of murdering a white victim have been found to be more likely to face the death penalty than those convicted of murdering a black victim. p. 108
Voter Disfranchisement - More than half of New York’s election agencies refused to register former felons until they provided documents, some of which were not legally required and others non-existent. p. 129
Immigration Detention - The U.S. government paid $300,000 to an Egyptian man living in New York detained for nearly a year after 9/11 to settle a suit. The man was then deported after being cleared of terrorism. He also alleged mental and physical abuse in detention. p. 110
Conditions of Confinement - Conditions at King’s County psychiatric facility are abusive, unsanitary and dangerous. Additionally, Black and Hispanic people are far more likely than white people to be held and treated involuntarily. p. 97-99
Anti-immigrant Ordinance - In Suffolk County, proposed "anti-loitering" legislation would have banned day laborers from seeking employment along roads. The ordinance was defeated in March 2007. p. 75-76
Discrimination in Housing - In New York City, the 10 neighborhoods with the highest subprime mortgage rates were predominantly Black and Hispanic, while the 10 with the lowest rates were predominantly white. p. 37
Racial Segregation - On a scale of zero to 100, with zero representing "perfect racial integration," New York City scores 81.8. p. 49
Racial Profiling - New York City police, after releasing much-delayed data, have been frisking with increasing frequency. 86% of those frisked are Black or Latino, and 90% of them were found to be engaging in no criminal activity. p. 63
Police Brutality - African-Americans and Latinos make the majority of complaints of police brutality to New York City’s Civilian Complaint Review Board, and the number of complaints increase each year. The Board has failed to investigate half of all complaints, and has been unable to hold officers accountable. p. 120, 123-124
Racial Discrimination in Schools - Only 38% of New York City’s overwhelmingly low-income and minority student body graduates high school in 4 years. Students express that teachers have low expectations and pay little attention to their educational performance, and get very little guidance. p. 141
Criminalization of School Discipline - In New York City, the police department provides school security in public schools. Due to policing practices and police involvement for non-criminal disruptions, school environments feel increasingly like juvenile detention facilities. The most highly-policed schools also tend to be the most under-funded. p. 151-152
Exploitation of Women Workers by Diplomats - In 2006 a lawsuit charging abuse of a domestic worker was filed against the state of Kuwait and a Kuwaiti diplomat in the Southern District of New York. The case is pending. p. 196
Government Discriminates Against Undocumented Workers - New York is among the states that have restricted undocumented workers’ rights post-Hoffman. p. 134-137
Employment Rights - The New York U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a "reverse discrimination" case alleging discrimination against whites. p. 35