People detained in New York City Central Booking facilities during two specified periods may claim up to $475 for each qualifying detention under a proposed $21.5 million civil-rights settlement. There is no visit-count cap stated in the official notice, so a person's potential payment depends on how many qualifying detentions appear in city records.
The lawsuits alleged that detainees were held in unconstitutional conditions in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. New York City denies wrongdoing. Claims must be submitted by October 19, 2026, and class members can ask the administrator to check or correct the number of detentions used for their payment.
Eligibility depends on the facility and the detention date
The settlement combines two different time windows. It covers people detained at Brooklyn Central Booking from April 8, 2017, through December 27, 2019. It also covers people detained at any New York City Central Booking location from February 3, 2020, through March 1, 2023.
Those periods should not be blended together. A detention outside Brooklyn during the earlier period is not included under the class definition printed in the notice. During the later period, Central Booking facilities in all five boroughs are covered.
The notice does not say that a conviction is required. Eligibility turns on detention in the covered facilities and periods, as reflected in New York City Department of Correction records.
Payments are calculated per qualifying detention
Class members may receive up to $475 for every qualifying time they were held in Central Booking. The notice does not state a maximum number of payable visits, which means people with multiple qualifying detentions may be entitled to more than one $475 amount.
The administrator uses city detention records to calculate the payment. A class member can contact the administrator to confirm the number of Central Booking visits on file. If that number appears wrong, the person can challenge it and ask the administrator to consult with the parties and make a final calculation.
The city also agreed to pay class counsel's requested fees and costs separately. The notice says lawyers will request up to $2.95 million, but that amount will not be deducted from the $21.5 million class fund if approved.
A claim is required even when the city has detention records
Having a qualifying record does not automatically produce a payment. The notice states that class members must submit a claim form.
The form asks for the Notice ID, contact information and an attestation that the submitted information is true. No separate third-party proof is listed. Class members who do not know their recorded visit count should contact the administrator rather than estimate it.
The default payment is a check mailed after final approval. A claimant who prefers PayPal, Venmo or Zelle can select an electronic payment method on the form. Keeping the administrator informed of address or contact changes can help prevent a payment from being misdirected.
What the lawsuits alleged
The cases alleged that New York City held people in unconstitutional Central Booking conditions during the covered periods and violated their due-process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. The three actions are Capobianco v. City of New York, Brennan v. City of New York and Aboubakar v. City of New York.
The city denies that it did anything wrong. The settlement is a negotiated compromise, and the court has not ruled for either side.
Class members who remain in the settlement will release claims concerning the issues raised in the lawsuits. People considering an individual case should review the full release before the October 5 opt-out deadline.
The claim and legal-choice deadlines are different
Claims must be filed online or mailed by October 19, 2026. The official notice does not print a separate online time-of-day cutoff, so filers should avoid waiting until the last day and should save a confirmation or mailing record.
The deadlines to opt out or object are earlier: October 5, 2026. Opting out gives up the settlement payment while preserving the ability to pursue released claims independently. Objecting keeps the person in the class while asking the court not to approve some or all of the agreement.
The fairness hearing is scheduled for October 22, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. The notice does not state a time zone. Payments are expected only after approval and any further review, and the notice says that could occur by the end of 2026.