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Issues with the Criminal Group Database
0:06:52
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46 sec
Public Advocate Williams outlines several issues with the Criminal Group Database, focusing on unclear criteria for inclusion and removal.
- Criteria for inclusion can be as vague as wishing a gang member happy birthday on social media or wearing certain colors
- NYPD has expanded self-admission criteria to include social media posts, including emojis and hashtags
- There are concerns about the interpretation of these posts and attribution to individuals
Jumaane Williams
0:06:52
It is unclear how or why an individual gets added to the c g d and is even less clear how someone can get themselves removed from it.
0:06:59
Wishing a gang member a happy birthday on social media, being outside late and wearing a certain color, and living in the same public housing complex as an accused gang member are all potential reasons for a person to be added to the database.
0:07:11
In the last few years, NYPD has expanded self admission criteria to including social media postings which can include emojis or hashtags or other unclear and undisclosed criteria.
0:07:21
This raises questions not only about the interpretation of these posts as admittance of gang membership but also of whether the NYPD can definitively attribute a post to an individual.
0:07:30
I think anyone who uses social media can relate to posting something without thinking or something that was misconstrued.
0:07:35
It does not mean that they are admitting to being in a gang.