S.3985 - JUSTICE Act Sponsored by @SenatorTimScott was introduced to congress on 6/24/2020. This bill was a step towards the justice that many across the country have protested for. This bill was actionable. Unfortunately, it didn't receive the votes to proceed, 55-45.
This bill had the following actions:
-George Floyd and Walter Scott Notification Act: requiring standardized reporting on any use-of-force (serious injury, death, etc.) event involving an officer or anytime a firearm is discharged at an individual.
-Breonna Taylor Notification Act: requiring reports on "no-knock" warrants by state and local law enforcement. Creating accountability for why the warrant was issued, whether there was bodily damage/death or property damage, or if any officer, suspect, or victim was killed.
The report must include the sex, race, ethnicity, and age of each person involved, whether the location matched the warrant, and if the warrant included the required information per the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
In order to comply, grants would be awarded up to $1,000,000 to assists in states complying with these requirements.

Remember, this was two months ago congress could have acted to champion change.
Incentivizing Banning of Chokeholds- The bill acknowledged the dangerous nature of chokeholds. The ban would eliminate maneuvers that restricts an individual’s ability to breathe for the purposes of incapacitation.
Falsifying Police Incident Reports- the bill included increased penalty for the falsification of police reports, with fines and/or imprisonment for up to 20 years.
Body-Worn Camera Partnership Grant Program- the bill included funding for grants to allow law enforcement agencies to obtain and utilize body cameras. This includes procedures, training, storage, auditing, and administrative support for the program.
The bill required that the procedures are developed with community input, required activation during arrests or detention and would apply discipline to officers who failed to ensure the cameras were engaged., and make footage available per FOIA request.
The bill allocated a half billion dollars ($100,000,000 per year for the next five years=$500,000,000) for the purchase and implementation of body cameras.
Records Retention Requirements- required that law enforcement agencies must retain disciplinary, internal investigation records, and performance reviews available for not less than 30 years. No more bad cops jumping around between different agencies without this following them.
Justice for Victims of Lynching- defining the crime of lynching as the ultimate expression of racism in the US following reconstruction. "Only by coming to terms with history can the United States effectively champion human rights abroad."
"An apology offered in the spirit of true repentance moves the United States toward reconciliation and may become central to a new understanding, on which improved racial relations can be forged." This bill would make lynching a Federal crime.
The bill made conspiring lynching punishable up to 10 years of imprisonment.
The Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act- balanced partisan effort of appointed leaders to The Commission shall conduct a systematic study of the conditions affecting Black men and boys.
This includes, "homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates, poverty, violence, fatherhood, mentorship, drug abuse, death rates, disparate income and wealth levels, school performance in all grade levels including postsecondary education and college, and health issues."
Alternatives to the use of force, de-escalation, behavioral health crises and duty to intervene training- requires the development of training curriculum for alternatives use of force, de-escalation tactics, and how to respond to behavior health crisis.
Law Enforcement Training Programs- provides funding for training of de-escalation techniques to the tune of $250,000,000.
Training on Duty to Intervene- "develop a training curriculum for law enforcement agencies and officers... a duty of a law enforcement officer to intervene when another law enforcement officer is engaged in excessive use of force."
This would help officers know how to successfully confront and engage another officer who is, "engaged in excessive use of force." Another $500,000,000 was appropriated.
Nat'l Criminal Justice Commission Act-establishes a "commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system; there has not been a comprehensive study since the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice was established in 1965"
Law Enforcement Agency Hiring and Education- provides funding for law enforcement agencies to hire recruiters and law enforcement officers.
Helping the agency enroll law enforcement officer candidates in law enforcement academies to become career law enforcement officers who have racial and ethnic demographic characteristics similar to the community;”
Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act- "Whoever, acting under color of law, knowingly engages in a sexual act with an individual who has been arrested by, is detained by, or is in custody... shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both."
The next time someone says something must be done, we must take action, perhaps ask them if their senator voted for S.3985 - JUSTICE Act sponsored by @SenatorTimScott. Hopefully congress will act soon. Please be safe everyone.
@spidadmitchell do you support the JUSTICE Act?

This is a step forward in the change you're using your voice for.
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