Office of Special Investigation

New York State Executive Law Section 70-b mandated the establishment of an Office of Special Investigation (OSI) within the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG), effective April 1, 2021. This legislation represents the codification and the expansion of the role previously performed by the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit (SIPU) since Executive Order 147 became effective on July 8, 2015.

The legislation requires OSI to “investigate and, if warranted, prosecute any alleged criminal offense or offenses committed by a person, whether or not formally on duty, who is a police officer…or a peace officer…concerning any incident in which the death of a person, whether in custody or not, is caused by an act or omission of such police officer or peace officer or in which the attorney general determines there is a question as to whether the death was in fact caused by an act or omission of such police officer or peace officer.”

OSI will investigate every incident in which a police officer caused or may reasonably have caused the death of a person, whether the person is armed or unarmed, and whether the officer is on duty or not. The law further obligates OSI to investigate every incident in which certain state, county, or local peace officers caused or may reasonably have caused the death of a person or an incarcerated inmate.

While OSI’s principal objective is to thoroughly investigate the incidents covered by Executive Law Section 70-b, in order to determine whether a prosecution is warranted, OSI also seeks to enhance transparency and strengthen public trust in the criminal justice system in these sensitive incidents. OSI issues written public reports in those cases it closes without charges, setting forth the facts gathered about the case and explaining the legal analysis behind its decision not to prosecute. These reports also include policy recommendations aimed at systemic reform improving law enforcement practices and policies.

OSI is staffed with experienced prosecutors, investigators, and family liaisons.

Reports

Section 70-b requires OSI to issue an annual report on October 1 of every year, accessible by the links below.

2022 OSI Annual Report

2021 OSI Annual Report

Biennial Report of the Office of the Attorney General's Special Investigations & Prosecutions Unit – 2019

Biennial Report of the Office of the Attorney General's Special Investigations & Prosecutions Unit – 2017

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News and Reports

Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Releases Report Related to the Death of Matthew Felix

Attorney General James' Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on Investigation into the Death of Michael Wallace

Attorney General James' Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on Investigation into the Death of Susan Harrington

Attorney General James' Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on Investigation into the Death of Wenzola Rountree

Attorney General James' Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on Investigation into the Death of Troy Hodge

Attorney General James' Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on Investigation into the Death of Daniel Prude

Attorney General James' Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on Investigation into the Death of Ferdy Jacinto-Martinez | Español

Attorney General James' Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on Investigation into the Death of Tina Davis

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on the Investigation into The Death of Allan Feliz

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on the Investigation into The Death of Evgeniy Lagoda

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on the Investigation into The Death of Dwayne Pritchett

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on the Investigation into The Death of DeWayne Watkins

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Gerard Roldan

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Michael Rizzetta

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Lillian Weyanna

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Jaime Lopez-Cabrera | Español

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Edwin William Garcia Lopez | Español

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Jonathan Maldonado

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Robert Scott

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Saheed Vassell 

Attorney General James' Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Walter Perez

Attorney General's Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On The Death Of Susan LoTempio

Statement By A.G. Underwood On Grand Jury Decision Regarding The Death Of Andrew Kearse 

Attorney General's Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On The Death Of John Havener

Attorney General's Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On The Death Of Jose Hernandez Rossy

AG's Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On The Death Of Edson Thevenin

Attorney General's Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On The Death Of Wardel Davis

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Indictment Charging Rensselaer County DA Joel Abelove With Official Misconduct And Perjury

Attorney General’s Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report on the Death of Ariel Galarza

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Release Of First Ever Biennial Report Of NY AG Office's Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit

Attorney General's Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On The Death Of Warren Corbitt

Attorney General's Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Report On The Investigation into the Death of Richard Gonzalez

Attorney General’s Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Detailed Report And Findings Of Extensive Investigation Into Death Of Miguel Espinal In Yonkers

A.G. Schneiderman’s Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Announces Detailed Report And Findings Of Investigation Into Death Of Joseph Seguin In Carmel

A.G. Schneiderman’s Special Investigations And Prosecutions Unit Releases Detailed Report On Investigation Into The Death Of Raynette Turner

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