The investigation will review the department's policies, procedures and training --- including how the unit investigates sexual assault crimes and its treatment of survivorsThe U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday it is launching an investigation into the New York Police Department's treatment of sex crime victims after receiving reports of"deficiencies...
The investigation will review the department's policies, procedures and training --- including how the unit investigates sexual assault crimes, its treatment of survivors and whether it it engages in the practice of gender-biased policing, according to the Department of Justice. The investigation will look into how the unit collects evidence, investigates and interacts with survivors and witnesses.
“Respectful, thorough, and complete investigations of sexual assaults are fundamental to a well-functioning justice system. Over the last several months, we have learned concerning information from a variety of sources of historical issues about the way the Special Victims Division has conducted its investigations for many years," U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace said in a statement.
The probe is a result of continuous reports, according to federal prosecutors who allege that they received information of deficiencies at the Special Victims Division that have persisted for more than a decade. These deficiencies, according to federal prosecutors, include failing to go through"basic investigative steps," as well as"shaming and abusing survivors and re-traumatizing them during investigations.