New Report Reveals 1 in 5 New Yorkers Sexually Harassed by NYPD; Advocates Demand Action from New Mayor

 

Today, The Community Safety Project — a collaboration between Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) and the CUNY Graduate Center’s Public Science Project — released the Police Sexual Violence in NYC,  the most comprehensive study of it’s kind on police sexual violence in New York City.  The report exposes the pervasive nature of the police sexual violence crisis in New York City, with nearly one in five New Yorkers having experienced police sexual violence at some point in their lifetime. Given the recent coverage of the NYPD officers accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old in the Bronx, this report is more important now than ever. The findings also come as Zohran Mamdani prepares to take office, presenting an urgent mandate for his administration to address these abuses. 

 

"This report's findings are deeply disturbing. Police sexual violence is an unconscionable abuse of power and a direct consequence of allowing a culture of impunity to persist within the NYPD. Every New Yorker deserves safety from harm, abuse and violence. We urge the incoming mayor to act decisively to address this systemic crisis and direct resources from the NYPD to our communities. Our communities have endured criminalization and abuse for too long. It’s well past time for a fundamental shift in policing,”  said Sala Cyril, lead organizer with the Malcom X Grassroots Movement.  

 

According to the report, New Yorkers experience a wide range of police sexual violence, from sexual harassment to sexual assault, at higher levels than commonly recognized. The research shows New Yorkers often feel unsafe, unheard or unbelieved and as a result, tend to not report police sexual violence. The report also unpacks how police sexual violence causes longlasting harm and fear for targeted individuals and entire communities.

 

The groundbreaking academic study surveyed 3,778 people from across all five boroughs and conducted 37 in-depth semi-structured interviews with survivors of police sexual violence, key findings include:

 

• Of the 3,778 survey participants 19% (n=459) of respondents reported they experienced police sexual violence, which includes sexual harrassment and sexual assault.,
  • Sexual harassment by the NYPD was experienced by 18% (n= 420_) of the survey respondents and nearly half (n=18) of those interviewed
  • Sexual assault by the NYPD (including but not limited to rape) was experienced by 4% (n=100) of survey participants and five interview participants
• Specific communities in New York City experience police sexual violence differently which was reflected in our findings, for example:
  • Of the LGBQ+ participants surveyed, 13% reported they felt targeted by the NYPD because of their sexual orientation and 9% experienced harassment based on sexual orientation, including police making insulting comments about their sexuality.
  • Of the transgender and/or non-binary participants surveyed, nearly a quarter (24%) reported sexual attention by officers— double the rate of all cisgender participants (12%)
• Lastly, the impact of police sexual violence on highly policed communities was significant with 40% of survey respondents in heavily policed neighborhoods worried about friends or family being sexually assaulted by NYPD officers.

 

The report includes the following recommendations to address the police sexual violence crisis: 

1. Expand oversight, transparency and accountability of the NYPD.
2. Reduce the size and scope of the NYPD.
3. Invest in non-police crisis support and intervention. 

 

“This report represents the largest study of its kind examining the lived experiences of police sexual violence. The findings reveal an insidious problem pervading the NYPD, one that extends beyond vulnerable populations to affect New Yorkers across all communities. Ending police sexual violence in New York City demands comprehensive solutions that address both the structural failures and toxic cultural elements within and beyond the NYPD,” said Priscilla Bustamante, PhD Candidate at the CUNY Graduate Center

 

"The Arab American Association of New York is proud to be on the Advisory team of the Police Sexual Violence report. New Yorkers deserve to live without fear of experiencing harm and violence from the police and those in power who are meant to serve and protect them. This report will amplify the voices of people who are directly impacted, and advise on what is needed to ensure that police sexual violence and other forms of violence are put to an end,” said Maryam Khaldi, Director of Programs at the Arab American Association of New York

 

"Police sexual violence is a very serious problem that still needs to be addressed. It is a crucial topic that needs to be reported on every level and shared amongst the masses. We all need to come together in unity as New Yorkers, to ensure this violence stops and we also need to hold the new mayoral administration, as well as all elected officials accountable as they take office,” said Jessica, participant who shared her experiences of police sexual violence. 

 

“This report makes clear that police-perpetrated sexual violence is a pervasive issue in our city that deserves greater attention from lawmakers across all levels of government. Survivors of this violence need swift action to hold perpetrators accountable and establish greater transparency around this all-too-common issue. I’m grateful to Communities United for Police Reform and the Public Science Project for documenting these devastating harms and ensuring survivors’ experiences aren’t dismissed or buried. These findings lay bare what so many New Yorkers, especially Black and brown women and gender-expansive people, have been saying for years: the NYPD cannot be left to investigate itself. We have a responsibility to meet this crisis with urgency and honesty and build structures of transparency and accountability that actually keep people safe,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson.

 

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