Statement form State Senator Gustavo Rivera on Bill That Would Grants Attorney General Jurisdiction to Prosecute Police Misconduct:

"For the second time in the last two weeks Senate Republicans have failed to move legislation out of committee that would reform how our criminal justice system prosecutes incidents involving law enforcement that result in the death or injury of a New Yorker. I am very disappointed that the Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations failed to recognize the need to advance a bill that would help remove doubt from the criminal justice process and restore the public's trust. Recent cases in New York and throughout our country have made it clear that communities of color are frequently victims to police brutality and that the current system in place is not dispensing justice equally. The Senate has a responsibility to reform the criminal justice system to ensure that all New Yorkers are treated equally under the law. While today's vote was a set back, I remain committed to working to reform various levels of our criminal justice system that are in dire need of resources and new procedures."