The Gang Database:
Stop & Risk 2.0

A documentary series

 
 

Director: Paul A. Notice II
Featuring: Marnie Lenox, Afrika Owes, Anthony Placeres, Lyndon Chris Placeres, Taylonn Murphy Sr., Chris Williams, Ms. Smith
Produced by Policing & Social Justice Project, Josmar Trujillo & TNB Studios
Editor: Paul A. Notice II
DP: Elliot Guilbe, Paul Notice, Stephanie Tankilisan

Five years following the 2014 Ferguson Uprising, local police are evolving their tactics to circumvent the civil rights and liberty of Black and Brown folx* once again. 

With crime at an all-time low, NYPD Chief of Detectives, Dermont Shea, is spearheading a new media frenzy and policy to encourage the city to continue spending millions in policing: “Gangs are Coming Back.”

…But are they? 

 
 
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This documentary follows local activists partnering with the Legal Aid Society, Just Leadership USA (JLUSA), NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defenders and more to ban the use of "gang databases" by the NYPD. 

But this time, communities members and activists alike are also bringing with them a philosophy and practice that fundamentally changes everything: Abolish the Police.

About 98% of the nearly 1 million individuals on this database, are Black or Latinx, with people as young as 11 years old. Being on the Gang Database allows the NYPD to circumvent the ban on Stop & Frisk, as well as conduct mass arrests for hundreds of alleged gang members.

 
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Furthermore, those “gang members” will be charged for crimes committed by a few people they might know. Being named in the Gang Database creates cruel and unjust barriers in the form of face longer sentences, larger bails, if any at all.  What's worse, the majority of the people placed on the Gang Database, are not gang members - and are not made aware of their inclusion, until arrested, or in court.

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The point activist and legal scholars alike are making, is that there is virtually no exact way to identify actual gang members. In fact, the qualifications listed by the NYPD are notoriously vague and broad. For example, living in a “known gang location” (such as public housing), and wearing “known gang colors” (like red, orange, blue, purple, green, black, white & yellow) - could land you in the Gang Database.

And even then, it gives no indication of whether they have, or will, commit a crime. 

Why? 

Because you don’t have to commit a crime to be on the Gang Database.  

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Community members across the country, like Brother AT Mitchell in New York, formed organizations like Man Up! following the tragic death of the 8 year old, Desean Hill in 2003 in NYC. It was their way of ending the cycle gun violence in East New York. 

They later became part of the New York City Crisis Management System’s Cure Violence Program, employing a public health model to address the issue of gun violence in local communities. 

This is the work of the violence interrupters, and other organizations who work to mediate conflicts. There are countless community organizations across the country are working with residents who have a high risk of committing gun violence, as well as those who have been impacted by it.  

We’ll cover a litany of those activists across the country, who are both fighting against over-policing, and providing a healthy alternatives, under the philosophy of “Abolish the Police.”

 

Events:

Take a look at some of Paul Notice’s graphic design work for The Policing and Social Justice Project below:

Series Map:

The Gang Database Series

Directed & Edited by
Paul A. Notice II

Produced by
The Policing and Social Justice Project
Alex Vitale, Josmar Trujillo & The Notice Blog

Part 8: "The Disciple”

An exploration of redemption, community, and the deconstruction of American law enforcement’s obsession with gangs, “The Disciple” follows former Gangster Disciple, Rev. Andy D. Williams’ fight against gang database policing in Aurora, IL, and beyond. Produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Paul A. Notice II, this documentary unearths meaningful, community-led alternatives to over-policing and the criminalization of Black and Brown residents, while unearthing the historic and socio-political roots of gangs and gang policing in America.

Part 7: “...because that’s what I knew.”

Part 6: Defund the Police

Honestly, I think we know by now that it’ll take a combination of things to move forward from this. I’ve been trying to figure out a proper response to George Floyd’s murder - and the subsequent violence against more Black people - while even more Black people die from COVID-19 - and emotionally, I’m spent.

The most I can put my mind to right now is spotlighting community-based solutions that I learn about through my work. One of these is something that directly relates to every New Yorker RIGHT NOW.

In a couple of weeks, NYC’s city council is going to finalize $827 million in cuts from the Department of education - and only $50 million from NYPD. They’re trying to make up for an estimated $10 billion tax revenue shortfall from the lockdown.

Here's the thing:

NYPD's Budget is actually $5.9 BILLION

You could literally take just $1 Billion of that $5.9 Billion, and make a 9-week summer program that could literally pay ALL 1.1 million public school kids in New York $100/week to just stay out of trouble.

I personally would argue that it would probably do just as good a job at preventing crime & keeping our youth safe during quarantine, but with a fraction of the harm done.

Here’s how you can make a difference now.

If you’d like to see more cuts to NYPD’s budget rather than education and other social services during the quarantine - let the people you elected to make that decision know.

Contact your City Council Member, or:

Finance Committee Chair Daniel Dromm
Email: DROMM@COUNCIL.NYC.GOV
Office: 212-788-7066
Twitter: @DROMM25

Public Safety Committee Chair Donovan Richards
Email: DRICHARDS@COUNCIL.NYC.GOV
Office: 212-788-7216
Twitter: @DRICHARDS13

Part 5: The Immaculate Re-Conception of Kraig Lewis

A lot of the folks we interviewed in this series, were impacted by the gang database. Obviously. AND they dealt with that trauma, through restorative justice and advocacy. 

All of them, were put into a corner. Facing an incomprehensibly vast system of obstacles, and went above and beyond what most normal people could endure. And we have to appreciate the resiliency there.

We hope these videos aren’t just highlighting the injustices -But also, the solutions.

And the sacrifices it took to find them.

And here’s Another One: Abolish the Police

Featuring: Kraig Lewis, Fareed Nassor Hayat
Voiceover Script: Ean Kessler & Paul Notice

Part 4: Are the Kids Alright?

In this fourth installment of the #GangDatabase series, we talk to Marnie Lenox & Afrika Owes about the constitutional and ethical issues surrounding NYPD's use of a gang database.

Featuring: Marnie Lenox, Afrika Owes, Anthony Placeres, Lyndon Chris Placeres

Part 3: Communities Fight Back Against Secret NYPD Gang Database

How do you lower gun violence? Is it through heavier policing and harsher penalties? Or is it through Credible Messengers and Anti-Violence groups? We join the Legal Aid Society, as they work with anti-violence groups in Brooklyn to solve the issue of not only gang violence but NYPD's newest method to work around the ban on Stop & Frisk: Gang Databases.

Featuring: The Legal Aid Society, Anthony Posada, Victor Dempsey, Man Up Inc., Sister Antoinette Kennedy, Brother Richie, Dominique Carson & AT Mitchell
DP: Elliot Guilbe

Part 2: The Truth About Crews | Ft. Vidal Guzman & Chris Williams

Recently, New York City has seen a growing number of stories related to gang-related crimes. It’s sparked several projects aimed at ridding NYC of gangs for good. But… Who are the people the NYPD call gangsters? We take a look, with JustLeadership USA.

Part 1: Gang Databases: Stop And Frisk 2.0 

With crime at an all-time low, NYPD Chief of Detectives, Dermont Shea, is spearheading a new media frenzy to encourage the city to continue spending millions in policing: Gangs are Coming Back. But are they? We follow local activists partnering with the #LegalAidSociety, as they attempt to not only ban the use of gang databases in New York, but also to expose the truth: the majority of the people on these databases, aren't actually gangsters...

Preface: The Cure to Mass Incarceration

Featuring: David Brotherton & Antonio Fernandez