NYLPI engages in impact litigation to protect and advance the federal, state and local law rights of people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and other disabilities who have interactions with the criminal justice system, and particularly the New York City Police Department. We work with advocates and groups focused on police interactions with people with mental illness, and have testified at public hearings about our clients' experiences. NYLPI also provides technical assistance and training to people with disabilities, their attorneys, advocates and direct-care staff. As a part of our work to improve police interactions with underrepresented communities, NYLPI has acted as an incubator for innovative projects. NYLPI hosts the monthly meetings of the New York City Policing Roundtable (NYCPR), a coalition of civil rights and public interest litigators, community organizers, advocates, policy analysts, academics, and people affected by police misconduct. NYCPR seeks to reduce police misconduct in New York City by fostering community organizing and advocacy, public education, litigation and research.
Working collaboratively, and relying heavily on the energy of volunteer law students and volunteer attorneys, NYCPR and NYLPI have created the Community Oversight of Policing Project (COPP) which provides free counseling and limited representation to victims of police misconduct before New York City's Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). For more information about the COPP program, click on the NYCPR website.
