New York State Office of the Special Prosecutor for Investigation of the New York City Criminal Justice System Background and…

Statement on Language

Some content in this finding aid may contain offensive terminology. For more information on why this language is occasionally retained, see: New York State Archives Statement on Harmful Language in Descriptive Resources.

Overview of the Records

Repository
New York State Archives
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230
Summary
The Knapp Commission was charged with identifying "patterns of corruption" within the New York City Police Department and investigating administrative procedures and operations for dealing with corruption. Records in this series include hearing transcripts, interview notes, complaint forms, questionnaires, subject and correspondence files, tape recordings, and minutes. Topics include specific types of criminal activity and on police involvement in them, relations between the police and citizens in black and Hispanic neighborhoods, and the work habits and culture of NYC police.
Title
Background and investigation files of the New York City Commission to Investigate Allegations of Police Corruption and the City's Anti-Corruption Procedures
Quantity
63.5 cubic feet; 16 motion picture films; 209 audiotapes
Inclusive Dates
Bulk Dates
Series Number
16012
Creator
Scope and Content Note

Records in this series include hearing transcripts, interview notes, complaint forms, questionnaires, subject and correspondence files, tape recordings, and minutes generated by the Knapp Commission. The records contain information on specific types of criminal activity and on police involvement in them; on relations between the police and citizens in black and Hispanic neighborhoods; and on the work habits and culture of New York City police. A nearly complete set of transcripts of the public hearings held by the commission in October and December 1971 is found in accretion 16012-90, Box 40. (The State Archives never received a transcript of the October 26 hearing.)

Other Finding Aids

Container lists and an unpublished list of public hearings are available at the repository.

Custodial History

The Commission records were likely transferred to the Special Prosecutor's Office in the early 1970s. The records were accessioned by the State Archives in 1990-1991.

Access Restrictions

Partly restricted by Freedom of Information Law sect. 87.2(a), (b), (e), (f), and (g). Statutes restricting access to certain materials pursuant to Freedom of Information Law sect. 87.2(a) are Criminal Procedure Law sect. 700.65 (communications intercepted by authority of an "eavesdropping" warrant); Penal Law sect. 250.20 (prohibits disclosure of information about the existence of a specific eavesdropping warrant); Penal Law sect. 215.70 (grand jury testimony); Civil Practice Law and Rules sect. 3101(b) (confidential attorney-client communications); and Criminal Procedure Law sect. 240.10(2) (confidential attorney work product or material prepared for litigation).

Public hearing transcripts are available for public inspection and copying.

Navigation