Civil Liberties Union: Stopped and Frisked Database Is Illegal

The New York Civil Liberties Union says a database with the names and addresses of hundreds of thousands of people stopped, questioned and frisked by police is illegal.

The NYCLU says state law requires that records relating to a summons or an arrest be sealed unless the person is convicted or pleads guilty to a crime.

It filed a lawsuit Wednesday in state Supreme Court in Manhattan.

The database grew out of a 2001 law. It required the NYPD to give lawmakers quarterly information on people it has stopped. Last year, the total was 575,304.

Police use the database as a tool to investigate crime. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Wednesday he hasn't seen the lawsuit but reiterated the importance of the database.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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