US Democrats To Press For Greater Police Accountability
Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate say they’re planning to propose legislation Monday to overhaul legal protections for police, following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man in police custody.
Rep. Karen Bass, D-Ca., chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said the proposed changes are expected to be bolder than any law enforcement changes in the past decade.
“It is time for police culture in many departments to change,” she said in an interview on CNN. “And we believe that the legislation will make a major step forward in that direction.”
The Associated Press reports it’s obtained a draft outline of the proposal, which it says would revise the federal criminal police misconduct statute to make it easier to prosecute officers involved in misconduct “knowingly or with reckless disregard.”
The AP says it also seeks to improve the oversight and transparency of police behavior.
For example, AP says, it would grant subpoena power to the Justice Department to conduct “pattern and practice” investigations of potential misconduct and help states conduct independent investigations. Also, it would change “qualified immunity” protections for police “to enable individuals to recover damages when law enforcement officers violate their constitutional rights.”
In addition, the draft document includes establishment of a “National Police Misconduct Registry” to prevent police with misconduct history from transferring to other departments.
It is as yet unclear whether police unions will back any of the proposed changes or if the package will get substantial backing from Republican lawmakers.
Source: OccupyGh.com
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