Sign the petition: Reform police by reforming federal funding of law enforcement.
To President Obama, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and all federal agencies issuing grants
America can no longer overlook police officers who use excessive force on people of color unarmed, in need of mental health care, and children all with little to no accountability.
Police culture has been incentivized to focus on the war on drugs and the war on terror both of which target black and brown people and perpetuates a war mentality against people of color.
Our justice system has made it nearly legal for police to use excessive force--police only need to perceive a threat to be legally cleared for excessive force or use of weapons against citizens.
Right now, the federal government gives billions of dollars in grants to state and local police departments with little direction or accountability for the operational use of the money.
Federal grants to law enforcement divisions should come with conditions which would change modern policing.
Sign the petition to President Obama, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and all other federal agencies distributing federal grant money to local and state police departments to attach meaningful conditions to stop institutional racism and police brutality which pervades the law enforcement system.
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To:
To President Obama, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and all federal agencies issuing grants
From:
[Your Name]
We urge the federal government to seriously address police reform by attaching conditions to any police department receiving federal funds.
Right now, the federal government gives billions of dollars in grants to state and local police departments with little direction or accountability for the operational use of the money.
Federal grants to law enforcement divisions should come with conditions which would change modern policing. A few recommendations would be:
-Provide ongoing and better training including simulations of real-life situations, training on racial and implicit bias, de-escalation techniques, and how to work with those under metal duress.
-Require community involvement from police officers so they connect with those they are hired to protect and serve.
-Change police metrics to focus on success oriented policing rather than arrests and incarceration rates.
-Develop permanent, independent boards to review incidents of police corruption and brutality. Hold officers accountable for breaking the law.
-Mandatory reporting and nationwide collection of any officer related act of violence, excessive force, or charge of racially motivated policing. Implement a national database of police officers.
-Require independent investigations and special prosecutors for police officers who may use excessive force or kill.
-Require constant use of body cameras, audio, and video recording of interactions.
-Require psychological screening and routine mental health services for officers.