Brooklyn Defender Services urges reforms on deaths in NYPD custody "without delay"
Brooklyn Defender ServicesPublic defender office, in a joint statement with The Legal Aid Society
Brooklyn Defender Services and the Legal Aid Society said the deaths underscore an urgent need for reform and urged the Mamdani administration to implement the public defenders' ten-point plan on deaths in or following NYPD custody without delay.
“These incidents underscore the urgent need for reform. Last year, we joined fellow public defenders, advocates, and impacted New Yorkers on the steps of City Hall to put forward a 10-point plan to address the crisis of deaths in or following NYPD custody. We again urge the Mamdani Administration to implement these commonsense reforms without delay.”
Official statement
Official statement
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Is the NYPD failing people who fall ill in its custody?
At least six people have died in 2026 after medical emergencies in NYPD custody before arraignment, most recently Reginald Newkirk, who was returned to a Brooklyn precinct after a hospital visit and died the next morning. Public defenders and elected officials say the deaths reflect systemic failures in police custody and medical care. NYPD officials say the department investigates every death and that a death does not mean officers did something wrong, and a spokesperson said all but one of this year's detainees were sent to or cleared by medical facilities before they died. The question is whether the NYPD and the city are failing people who fall ill in police custody.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Joint statement from two public defender offices after a man who had a medical emergency at Brooklyn Criminal Court died on September 9, 2026.
Official statement
About this source
Press release from a coalition of New York City public defender offices announcing a ten-point plan on deaths in NYPD custody, issued before the Council's September 22, 2025 hearing.
Reporting
About this source
Gothamist report on the death of a 48-year-old man on September 9, 2026, weeks after a medical episode in a holding cell at Brooklyn Central Booking.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The two offices issued the statement after a 48-year-old man who had a medical emergency in NYPD custody at Brooklyn Central Booking in August died on September 9, 2026.
After the quotation
The ten-point plan, released by public defender offices in September 2025, calls for independent investigations, medical care in every precinct and courthouse, and an end to custodial arrests for low-level offenses that the law says should get appearance tickets.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is whether the NYPD and the city are failing people who fall ill in police custody. The statement describes "the crisis of deaths in or following NYPD custody" and urges the Mamdani administration to adopt the defenders' reforms "without delay." That treats current custody practice as failing, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional, which would fit support for further review; it calls for the reforms now.
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More from this case
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“Once the NYPD chooses to keep someone in custody, it assumes responsibility for that person's well-being ... People experiencing a substance-use crisis or withdrawal need timely medical care, and they should not remain in prolonged police custody while awaiting arraignment on low-level offenses.”Read statement
Mamdani's spokesperson says the city is "reviewing every stage of the process" after deaths in custody
“The safety of every person in custody is a top priority for the Mamdani administration ... We are reviewing every stage of the process, from arrest through arraignment, to identify any changes needed to protect the health and safety of everyone who enters the system.”Read statement
Public Advocate's office says the city "must urgently move to ensure the safety of all in custody"
“In a humane world, alleged shoplifting would not result in sudden death. We will continue to monitor the inquiry into Vincent Thoms' death in custody. With a new administration in place, the City must urgently move to ensure the safety of all in custody.”Read statement
Cite this record
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Brooklyn Defender Services urges reforms on deaths in NYPD custody "without delay"
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/5311-brooklyn-defender-services-and-the-legal-aid-society
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Brooklyn Defender Services urges reforms on deaths in NYPD custody "without delay"". First published: 2026-10-09. Last updated: 2026-10-09. https://disputeindex.com/events/5311-brooklyn-defender-services-and-the-legal-aid-society