Port Authority Police to Stop Restroom Stings

metroweekly.com:

The New York Times.Holden was charged with public lewdness, but the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office later dismissed the charges against him.As part of the lawsuit, the Legal Aid Society alleged that the increase in lewdness arrests in Port Authority bathrooms throughout the 2000s and 2010s was part of a coordinated effort by officers to boost “quality of life” arrest statistics, a term referring to minor infractions that allegedly create an unsafe and disorderly environment where serious crimes can more easily flourish.The Legal Aid Society charged that Port Authority police continued to engage in undercover restroom stings — primarily targeting men perceived to be gay or bisexual — in full knowledge of the fact that most of those arrested would “ultimately plead guilty to lesser charges to avoid public embarrassment and humiliation, costly legal fees, and jail sentences, as well as suffer reputational and professional harm associated with the false charges.”The Legal Aid Society noted that many of those arrested in 2014 accepted plea deals for “violations” in order to make the charges against them go away. (Violations are a class of offense that are not considered crimes but can potentially carry sentences of up to 15 days in prison.)Others who were arrested reported similar experiences, insisting that the alleged behavior for which they were arrested had never occurred.According to testimony from one man who was arrested and accused of public lewdness, the arresting officer refused to tell him why he was being arrested, only remarking “you gay people.”He pleaded guilty to a violation, paid a fine, and attended court-ordered therapy, but says the experience negatively impacted his mental health.