enhance and pass the george floyd justice in policing act

George Floyd was murdered after having a knee placed on his neck for over ten minutes while stating that he could not breath. The viral video sparked a global movement for change.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (GFJPA) is a landmark piece of legislation aimed at addressing systemic issues within policing and ensuring greater accountability. However, to truly transform policing and address the disproportionate impact on Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, the Act must be expanded and refined. This platform will outline the key components of the GFJPA, address criticisms, and propose additional measures to create a comprehensive and inclusive approach to policing reform.

Key Components of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

  • Use of Force Standards: Prohibits the use of chokeholds at the federal level. Restricts the use of deadly force to situations to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury.

  • Accountability and Transparency: National Police Misconduct Registry. Mandates body cameras by federal officers and conditions state/local funding on their use.

  • Racial Bias and Profiling: Prohibits federal, state, and local law enforcement from engaging in racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling. Requires training on racial profiling, implicit bias, and de-escalation techniques.

  • Qualified Immunity Reform: Limits the scope of qualified immunity.

  • Prohibits the use of no-knock warrants in drug-related cases at the federal level and conditions state and local funding on their prohibition.

Criticisms of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

  • Insufficient Accountability: Does not fully eliminate qualified immunity, lacks provisions for truly independent oversight of police misconduct investigations.

  • Limited Scope: Many provisions apply primarily to federal law enforcement.

  • Resource Allocation: Does not adequately address the reallocation of resources from policing to community-based alternatives.

  • Implementation Challenges: funding mechanisms may be insufficient to ensure compliance at the state and local levels. Concerns about the effectiveness of mandated training programs.

Expanding the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

  • Ending Qualified Immunity.

  • Enhance support for civil rights litigation.

  • Providing funding for legal representation.

  • Strengthening Accountability and Oversight Establish independent civilian oversight bodies with subpoena, investigative, and disciplinary power.

  • Federal Oversight: Create a federal oversight committee to monitor compliance with the GFJPA provisions and enforce penalties for non-compliance. National standards (and registry) for the use of force that emphasize de-escalation and community input and access. With mandatory reporting.

  • Data Collection and Analysis: Require detailed data collection on all police stops, searches, arrests, and use of force incidents, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and other demographic factors.

  • Reallocating Resources and Redefining Public Safety.

  • Defunding Policing: Redirect funds from police departments to community-based services, including mental health care, housing, education, and violence prevention programs.

  • Alternative Crisis Response: Develop and implement alternative crisis response teams to handle non-violent emergencies, such as mental health crises and homelessness, without police intervention.

  • Support for Victims of Police Violence.

  • Ending Militarization of Police & Transparency in Equipment Use.

Conclusion

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (GFJPA) is a landmark piece of legislation aimed at addressing systemic issues within policing and ensuring greater accountability. However, to truly transform policing and address the disproportionate impact on Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, the Act must be expanded and refined. This platform will outline the key components of the GFJPA, address criticisms, and propose additional measures to create a comprehensive and inclusive approach to policing reform.