New York State lawmakers began passing a package of police accountability bills along with other criminal justice reforms.
According to the New York Post, the Assembly and Senate passed five bills Monday night, including one that criminalizes the use of police chokeholds that result in injury or death. The use of chokeholds by the NYPD had already been banned in 1993. But this new bill will make chokeholds a Felony! The Bill is also named for Eric Garner who died in police custody after an Officer body-slammed him and put him in a chokehold! Eric shouted several times that he couldn't breath!
The Eric Garner bill would make it so that a police officer who injures or kills somebody while using "a chokehold or similar restraint" can be charged with a Class C felony, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has indicated he will sign the act into law.