NYPD Misconduct Settlements Surpass Half a Billion Dollars in Six Years

The city's median payout for police misconduct lawsuits has doubled since 2018, amidst criticism over accountability and the cost of violent policing.

• New York City has paid over $540 million in NYPD misconduct settlements in the last six years, with $114.5 million paid in 2023 alone.
• The median payout for settlements has more than doubled from $10,500 in 2018 to $25,000 in 2023.
• A significant portion of recent payouts are linked to cases from the 1980s and 1990s, where convictions have been reversed.
• Legal Aid Society highlights a system failure in holding offending officers accountable, with few officers disciplined despite repeated lawsuits.
• The NYPD and city officials argue that settling cases expeditiously avoids costlier litigation and provides justice for wrongfully convicted individuals.

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