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to requests for interviews, 'Complainant/Victim Unavailable' where the CCRB cannot contact the complainant, 'Complaint Withdrawn' and 'Victim/Officer Unidentified'.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:

7987 Alleged Victim Unavailable
19684 Alleged Victim Uncooperative
6272 Closed - Pending Litigation
30684 Complainant Unavailable
98674 Complainant Uncooperative
36264 Complaint Withdrawn
67310 Exonerated
1265 Miscellaneous
1358 Miscellaneous - Subject Resigned
2071 Miscellaneous - Subject Retired
129 Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated
18339 Officer(s) Unidentified
10955 Substantiated (Charges)
3597 Substantiated (Command Discipline A)
1921 Substantiated (Command Discipline B)
3048 Substantiated (Command Discipline)
538 Substantiated (Command Lvl Instructions)
1531 Substantiated (Formalized Training)
843 Substantiated (Instructions)
9 Substantiated (MOS Unidentified)
1746 Substantiated (No Recommendations)
651 Unable to Determine
33446 Unfounded
101825 Unsubstantiated
2407 Victim Unidentified
1275 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 he is 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:

2045 APU - Decision Pending
113 APU Closed: Charges not served
5 APU Closed: Deceased
25 APU Closed: Dismissed by APU
1 APU Closed: Other
64 APU Closed: Previously adjudicated, with discipline
5 APU Closed: Previously adjudicated, without discipline
20 APU Closed: Resigned
137 APU Closed: Retained, with discipline
63 APU Closed: Retained, without discipline
129 APU Closed: Retired
5 APU Closed: SOL Expired in APU
66 APU Closed: SOL Expired prior to APU
7 APU Closed: Terminal leave
4 APU Closed: Terminated
7 APU Command Discipline
10 APU Command Discipline A
5 APU Command Discipline B
93 APU Dismissed
23 APU Formalized Training
789 APU Guilty
6 APU Instructions
11 APU Nolo contendere
462 APU Not guilty
1 APU Previously adjudicated, with discipline
3 APU Retained, with discipline
311 Charge Dismissed - DCT
13 Charge Dismissed - OATH
337 Charges and Specifications - Guilty
2121 Command Discipline - A
1053 Command Discipline - B
53 Command Level Instructions
24 DAO case
284 Filed
1269 Formalized Training
7 Guilty - DCT
4 Guilty - OATH
2535 Instructions
56 Negttn-Guilty
62 Negttn-Nolo contendre
2479 No Disciplinary Action-DUP
344 No Disciplinary Action-SOL
32 No Finding
666 Not Guilty - DCT
4 Not Guilty - OATH
320 Plead Guilty - DCT
7 Plead Guilty - OATH
67 Previously Adjudicated
46 Resigned
56 Retired