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QUESTION
How Do Procedures Address Past Wrongful Convictions Like the Central Park Jogger Case?
0:55:28
ยท
157 sec
Council Member Yusef Salaam inquires about procedures concerning past wrongful convictions, specifically referencing the Central Park Jogger case. He expresses concern about the lack of complete video recordings during the case's interrogations, highlighting the significant impact of such flaws in investigations. The responding representative emphasizes the NYPD's commitment to rectifying mistakes, cooperating with wrongful conviction units, and ensuring justice by catching the correct perpetrators. This dialogue showcases Salaam's push for justice and verification of procedural improvements from the NYPD.
Yusef Salaam
0:55:28
I mean, I appreciate I appreciate what you're saying and what you've said.
0:55:33
I'm I'm I'm concerned specifically because As mentioned, the Century Park Jaga case is a case that was very front and center.
0:55:46
The video interrogations weren't the full the full custodial video interrogations for the individuals who actually made those false confessions were not recorded from the beginning all the way through.
0:56:02
And the most egregious acts, Corey Wise made multiple false false statements.
0:56:08
I'm I'm I'm wondering because I know you've said that these procedures are in place to do these things.
0:56:18
But I'm wondering My I guess my concern is this.
0:56:22
The detectives that interrogated us were members of Manhattan North homicide detectives squad.
0:56:30
Has been said, this detective squad was such an elite unit that you couldn't even apply to become one of those detectives unless you had 20 years of experience on the job.
0:56:43
And I think about 20 years of experience that makes a person an expert.
0:56:47
Right?
0:56:47
But yet in the Central Park Jarga case as the example that I'm that I'm involved in or was involved in, you know, there was so many things that went wrong.
0:56:58
And I know that these are procedures that we're talking about that are in place now.
0:57:04
My concern is not just also from the now but also from the past because there's so many people that are still reaching out to our office trying to get, you know, justice, if you will.
Joseph Kenny
0:57:17
And we're we're committed to helping with that.
0:57:20
He said, we don't we don't refuse any request from any of the wrongful conviction units from any of the district attorney's office nor nor from the Eastern or Southern District.
0:57:29
We're we're more than willing to help We give them every resource that's available to us to make that happen.
0:57:34
They said, we we do not want lawful convictions.
0:57:37
We do not we wanna catch the right person.
0:57:39
And you brought up the perfect analogy.
0:57:42
If the wrong person's in jail, the the right person is still out there committing crimes, against the community, and that's something that goes completely against our core values.
0:57:52
But we're here to protect life.
0:57:54
We're here to protect people from crime.
0:57:56
And if by some mistake that was made inadvertently on purpose, a forensic mistake, we have to clear that up.
0:58:04
We have to get this right.