As the outrage and demonstrations against police brutality and injustice continue across the United States, members of Congress are taking a stand by vowing that there will be changes and reforms in the way law enforcement operates in our country. No longer will we stand for the way police officers treat persons of color.
Training, rues of conduct and treatment of the public are all coming under review following the tragic and brutal way four Minneapolis police officers acted toward George Floyd, which ultimately resulted in his death. On Monday, United States Senator Cory Booker (D – New Jersey) made an impassioned plea for change on the Senate floor, announcing he is cosponsoring the Justice in Policing Act with Senator Kamala Harris. The legislation aimed at revamping the way in which officers conduct themselves when dealing with the public.
On the House side, New Jersey Rep. Albio Sires (D- Dist. 8) is a lead sponsor of companion legislation along with Democrats, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Jerry Nadler, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
“Systemic racism exists in our society and it is long past time for us to take concrete steps to address the flaws in our policing system,” said Rep. Sires. “I believe that the Justice in Policing Act is a necessary step that includes important policy to address bias and the historical lack of accountability. While I know that one piece of legislation will not solve the issues that have long plagues our society, I am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and work on additional federal legislative efforts.”
The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 would hold police accountable for their actions in the court system. The proposed reforms would enable victims of their conduct to recover damages, something which they are barred from at the present time. The reforms would also give subpoena power to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
Sires went on to say that “everyone should support efforts to make our policing system more just, transparent, and accountable.”
The brutal attack on George Floyd has led for calls from the public to disband the Minneapolis Police Department altogether, something that city’s Police Chief has publicly stated is a bad idea and sends the wrong message. Those in favor of disbanding the department point to Camden, New Jersey, which dissolved its police force about six years ago. The city of Camden is now patrolled by the Camden County Police Department.
The proposed Justice in Policing Act would further change the way in which law enforcement operates by incentivizing the creation of independent, investigative bodies. Transparency would be improved with the creation of a National Police Misconduct Registry. A press release from Congressman Sires’ office says this would “prevent officers from changing jurisdictions to avoid accountability and mandating state and local law enforcement agencies report detailed use of force data.”
The legislation also includes many of the things demonstrators here in Hudson County have been talking about over the past few weeks, including the improvement of police training with the end of racial and religious profiling; the banning of chokeholds and carotid holds; the abolishment of no-knock warrants in drug cases; and the mandatory use of police body cameras at all times when an officer is on duty.
Lynching would also become a federal crime.
Cpngressman Sires stated that “these reforms, many of which have been introduced over the years as standalone measures, are in everyone’s best interest and we should move quickly to consider the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 and send it to the President’s desk.”