CCRB Conclusion Definitions

'Substantiated': The alleged conduct occurred and it violated the rules set by the NYPD in their Patrol Guide and the officer should receive some sort of discipline. The NYPD can choose to ignore CCRB recommendations and has discretion over what, if any, discipline is imposed.


'Unfounded': Evidence suggests that the event or alleged conduct did not occur.


'Exonerated'/'Within NYPD Guidelines': The alleged conduct occurred, but did not violate the NYPD’s own rules, which often give officers significant discretion. The officer committed the acts in the allegation but they were deemed to be lawful.


'Unsubstantiated'/'Unable to Determine': The CCRB has fully investigated but could not affirmatively conclude both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules. This does not mean innocence of the allegation, but that the CCRB was unable to prove guilt. This may be due to lack of evidence from the officer or the failure of the department to cooperate in providing necessary information, such as body cam footage. Often the department is not forthcoming despite a legal duty to cooperate in CCRB investigations.


'Closed - Pending Litigation': The complainant or victim chose not to cooperate with the investigation on the advice of counsel. They can request to have the case re-opened.


'Closed - Miscellaneous': This often means the officer is no longer a member of the NYPD.


Other conclusions where cases are closed as unable to investigate include 'Complainant/Victim Uncooperative' where the complainant doesn't respond to requests for interviews, 'Complainant/Victim Unavailable' where the CCRB cannot contact the complainant, 'Complaint Withdrawn' and 'Victim/Officer Unidentified'.


Definitions of conclusions are also available from the CCRB site.


CCRB Conclusion counts:

8123 Alleged Victim Unavailable
19763 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
7522 Closed - Pending Litigation
31462 Complainant Unavailable
100045 Complainant Uncooperative
36799 Complaint Withdrawn
67308 Exonerated
1287 Miscellaneous
1497 Miscellaneous - Subject Resigned
2165 Miscellaneous - Subject Retired
131 Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated
18784 Officer(s) Unidentified
11076 Substantiated (Charges)
4166 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
2114 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
3048 Substantiated (Command Discipline)
538 Substantiated (Command Lvl Instructions)
1662 Substantiated (Formalized Training)
843 Substantiated (Instructions)
9 Substantiated (MOS Unidentified)
1746 Substantiated (No Recommendations)
2037 Unable to Determine
34678 Unfounded
101819 Unsubstantiated
2441 Victim Unidentified
3792 Within NYPD Guidelines
17 Witness Unavailable
57 Witness Uncooperative

Discipline definitions:

When a CCRB complaint is substantiated, it can only recommend types of discipline. The NYPD can choose to ignore these recommendations and conclude for itself which discipline, if any, to apply. CCRB complaints and discipline are recorded in officers’ personnel records.


'Charges and Specifications': Charges launch a trial with the Administrative Prosecution Unit (APU). An officer may lose vacation days, be suspended, or terminated if they are found guilty.


'Command Disciplines': There are two types of Command Discipline, Schedule A and the more serious Schedule B. An officer can lose up to ten vacation days as a result of a Command Discipline.


'Instructions or Formalized Training ': The least severe discipline and results in training for the officer at the command level (Instructions) or training at the Police Academy or NYPD Legal Bureau (Formalized Training).


APU is the 'Administrative Prosecution Unit'.
DCT is the 'Deputy Commissioner of Trials'.
OATH is the 'Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings'.
SOL is 'Statute Of Limitations'.
RTKA is 'Right To Know Act'.
DUP is 'Department Unable to Prosecute' - when NYPD decides it will not discipline an officer where CCRB recommended discipline other than charges.


Definitions for discipline are also available from the CCRB site.


NYPD Conclusion counts:

1817 APU - Decision Pending
2 APU Charges not served
387 APU Closed: Charges not served
5 APU Closed: Deceased
25 APU Closed: Dismissed by APU
4 APU Closed: Other
73 APU Closed: Previously adjudicated, with discipline
7 APU Closed: Previously adjudicated, without discipline
29 APU Closed: Resigned
148 APU Closed: Retained, with discipline
75 APU Closed: Retained, without discipline
162 APU Closed: Retired
19 APU Closed: SOL Expired in APU
150 APU Closed: SOL Expired prior to APU
7 APU Closed: Terminal leave
6 APU Closed: Terminated
7 APU Command Discipline
52 APU Command Discipline A
54 APU Command Discipline B
113 APU Dismissed
2 APU Dismissed by Police Commissioner
30 APU Formalized Training
869 APU Guilty
6 APU Instructions
11 APU Nolo contendere
492 APU Not guilty
1 APU Previously adjudicated, with discipline
3 APU Retained, with discipline
1 APU Retained, without discipline
2 APU Retired
311 Charge Dismissed - DCT
13 Charge Dismissed - OATH
337 Charges and Specifications - Guilty
2237 Command Discipline - A
1123 Command Discipline - B
53 Command Level Instructions
25 DAO case
284 Filed
1328 Formalized Training
7 Guilty - DCT
4 Guilty - OATH
2535 Instructions
56 Negttn-Guilty
62 Negttn-Nolo contendre
2674 No Disciplinary Action-DUP
353 No Disciplinary Action-SOL
32 No Finding
666 Not Guilty - DCT
4 Not Guilty - OATH
320 Plead Guilty - DCT
7 Plead Guilty - OATH
76 Previously Adjudicated
56 Resigned
63 Retired