Reporting on New York City: Policing & Crime

A crime, according to the New York State Penal Law, is a felony or misdemeanor:

• Misdemeanor: An offense, other than a traffic infraction, for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of fifteen days may be imposed, but for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of one year cannot be imposed.
• Felony: An offense for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of one year may be imposed.

The New York Police Department classifies seven major felony crimes according to the definitions in NYS Penal Law: murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny, and grand larceny auto. 

The guide Don't Be a Copagandist! A Resource for Media on Covering "Crime" and Violence, compiled by Mia Henry, Lewis Raven Wallace, and Andrea J. Ritchie, offers eight tips for journalists reporting on policing.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is the largest municipal police force in the U.S., with over 33,000 uniformed officers and more than 15,000 civilian employees in 2025.

For a recent overview and data analysis, see Vital City's The State of Crime in New York City at Midyear 2025.

Arrest records may be released in the following ways:

• An individual's full official arrest and conviction history ("rap sheet") is only available at their own request, and requires fingerprints.
• A criminal history record search (CHRS), showing open/pending and convictions in criminal cases, can be requested by anyone for a fee of $95 by providing an exact name and birthdate.
• Arrest reports are not routinely released by the NYPD although they can be the subject of a FOIL request. Examples of FOIL requests to the NYPD can be found on MuckRock, including an example of a recent arrest report and a historical arrest report.