N.Y. Civil Rights Law Section 91
Right to call for police and emergency assistance

  • victim protections

1.

Any person who is a victim of domestic violence, as defined in Social Services Law § 459-A (Definitions)section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law, or who otherwise believes they are in need of police or emergency assistance has the right to request such assistance and to be free of any direct or indirect penalty or reprisal for accessing assistance, or because they reside at a property where domestic violence or other law enforcement or emergency response activity occurred. Other than as provided in § 92 (Protections not applicable to breaches of lease, illicit activities or other violations of law)section ninety-two of this article, no victim of conduct which has been used as the grounds for the application of a local law or ordinance established for the purpose of regulating nuisances shall be directly or indirectly penalized, or otherwise subject to reprisal by application of such local law, including by termination or refusal to renew a tenancy or by eviction. These protections shall also extend to any residential occupant upon whose behalf a third party has called for police or emergency assistance.

2.

No residential occupant shall be required, either orally or in writing, to waive rights under this article, and any such waiver shall be void and unenforceable.

Source: Section 91 — Right to call for police and emergency assistance; victim protections, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/CVR/91 (updated Sep. 20, 2019; accessed Oct. 25, 2025).

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Verified:
Oct. 25, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 20, 2019

§ 91. Right to call for police & emergency assistance's source at nysenate​.gov

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