A New Era of Police Accountability
In a significant step toward reforming American policing, Congress passed a comprehensive police reform bill that establishes the first-ever national standards for use of force, creates a federal database of officer misconduct, and funds community-based public safety alternatives.
The legislation, which gained bipartisan support after years of advocacy by civil rights organizations and affected families, represents the most significant reform of American policing in a generation.
Key Provisions
The legislation includes several landmark provisions:
- National ban on chokeholds and no-knock warrants in most circumstances
- Mandatory body cameras for all federal law enforcement officers
- A federal registry of police misconduct to prevent officers fired for abuse from being rehired elsewhere
- $5 billion in funding for community-based mental health response teams
The bill has received endorsements from a diverse coalition including civil rights organizations, police reform advocates, and several law enforcement leaders who see the reforms as essential to rebuilding public trust.
"True public safety requires trust between communities and the officers who serve them," said a leading civil rights advocate. "This bill lays the foundation for that trust."
