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Where to file a Philadelphia police misconduct suit.

By: alan-yatvin

Recently, a colleague queried a local criminal justice listserve for advice on filing a police unreasonable force case in Pennsylvania state court in Philadelphia. I responded with some advice and observations on the pros and cons of filing in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (the First Judicial District or “FJD”), versus seven blocks east in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This blog post collects and expands upon our email exchange.


The incident at issue involved allegations that Philadelphia police officers beat a suspect.  When their further investigation cleared him of the initial criminal allegations, they left him on the street without arresting him or transporting him for medical treatment. There were officers on the scene who did not participate in the beating, but merely stood by without intervening. The proposed plaintiff suffered bruises, contusions, abrasions and broken teeth. He took himself to the hospital, where he was treated and released. He did not have medical insurance and did not receive follow-up treatment. His injuries have resolved, other than his teeth. Continue reading “Where to file a Philadelphia police misconduct suit.”

Mayor names Yatvin to Philadelphia Police Community Oversight Board

By: alan-yatvin

On April 17, 2015, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter named Alan L. Yatvin to the newly created Police Community Oversight Board. The Board was established by the Mayor by Executive Order No. 1-15, in response to the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policy Services (DOJ-COPS) report entitled, “Collaborative Reform Initiative:  An Assessment of Deadly Force Policy and Practice in the Philadelphia Police Department” and the Interim Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Continue reading “Mayor names Yatvin to Philadelphia Police Community Oversight Board”

Yatvin gives written testimony before Senate Committee

By: alan-yatvin

ada-logoOn April 29, 2014, Alan Yatvin gave written testimony on behalf of the American Diabetes Association before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights on “Law Enforcement Responses to Disabled Americans: Promising Approaches for Protecting Public Safety.”

The text of the written testimony appears below: Continue reading “Yatvin gives written testimony before Senate Committee”

Training the Trainers at the NYPD: Yatvin speaks to police about diabetes issues

By: alan-yatvin

On behalf of the American Diabetes Association, Alan Yatvin, along with Daniel Lorber, MD, presented a training on diabetes at the New York City Police Academy on January 31, 2014. The program, which was attended by 250 training sergeants, was to prepare for Command Level Training which the training sergeants will be providing to New York City Police officers in February. Continue reading “Training the Trainers at the NYPD: Yatvin speaks to police about diabetes issues”