'Substantiated': The 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 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. Complaints closed prior to February 2023 use the term 'Exonerated' and after use the term 'Within NYPD Guidelines'. There is no substantive or legal difference between 'Within NYPD Guidelines' and 'Exonerated'.
'Unsubstantiated'/'Unable to Determine': CCRB has fully investigated but could not affirmatively conclude both that the alleged 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 NYPD to cooperate in providing necessary information, such as body cam footage. Complaints closed prior to February 2023 use the term 'Unsubstantiated' and after use the term 'Unable to Determine'. There is no substantive or legal difference between 'Unable to Determine' and 'Unsubstantiated'.
'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.
'OMB PEG Directive Closure' / 'SRAD Closure': Due to Mayor's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) citywide budget cuts, as of January 1, 2024, CCRB is no longer able to fully investigate certain cases within its jurisdiction and suspended investigating some types of complaints. Also identified as 'Strategic Resource Allocation Determination (SRAD) Closure'.
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, or 'Victim Unidentified', often when the complaint was made by someone other than the victim.
CCRB refers to its decision on an allegation as the 'CCRB Board Disposition'. Their definitions for these terms is available at the CCRB site.
CCRB Conclusion counts:
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 Discipline': 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 available from the CCRB site.
NYPD Conclusion counts: