New York City police officers issued between 1,200 and 1,600 summonses per day between 2003 and 2013, for “quality of life” violations of various municipal codes, according to a new study from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
The college's president, Jeremy Travis, presented the study's findings Monday to the non-profit watchdog group the Citizens Crime Commission.
“Summonses for low-level violations constitute the most frequent form of contact the public has with law enforcement,” said President Travis. “Our findings point to the need for policy discussions about this important, and under-examined, aspect of our criminal justice system.”
The number of summonses issued ranged from a high of about 1,600 in 2006 to a low of about 1,200 in 2013, according to the study, which found that, overall, summonses are on the decline.
The decline is driven by lower issuance rates among 16-20 year olds, according to the study.
More than 40 percent of summonses issued between 2003 and 2013 were dismissed or resulted in a ruling of adjournment in contemplation of dismissal; 21 percent resulted in a plea or finding of guilt.
Read the full study HERE.