From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Mon May 7 2018 (Updated 05/06/19)
California Bills Seek to Address Unchecked Police Powers
Legislature Moves to Reign in Police Use of Force and Increase Transparency
UPDATE: SB1421 passed and went into effect on January 1, 2019. AB931 did not survive the legislative session, but was reintroduced in February 2019 as AB392.
Spurred by the fatal police shooting of Stephon Clark, California lawmakers have introduced a measure that would alter the standard for when law enforcement officers can use deadly force. The Police Accountability and Community Protection Act (AB 931), introduced by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), would change the standard of firearm use from "reasonable use" to "necessary force," meaning officers would be permitted to open fire only when there is no other reasonable alternative to prevent injury or death. It is expected that this will significantly reduce the number of people killed by police.
Another bill, SB 1421, introduced by Senator Skinner (D-Berkeley), will honor the public's right to know by giving the public access to police records related to: 1) Serious use-of-force investigations, including investigations into police shootings, and 2) Sustained complaints against officers for sexual assault or other serious job-related dishonesty, such as perjury, falsifying police reports, and planting or destroying evidence.
But legislators have proposed other similar police accountability measures since the 2006 California Supreme Court Copley decision, only to see them die in various committees after police lobbies such as the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) object to the bills. Perhaps this time will be different.
‘Please Give Us Justice': New California Law Aims to Hold Police Accountable | California Lawmakers Challenge Police Lethal Force Standard After Stephon Clark Shooting |
ACLU of California Statement on 2018 Legislation to Hold Police Accountable |
CA AB931 |
CA SB1421
Related Features: That Didn't Last Long: Police Transparency Bill Not Even Given a Full Vote | New California Bill Promises Increased Transparency in Law Enforcement Misconduct Records
Spurred by the fatal police shooting of Stephon Clark, California lawmakers have introduced a measure that would alter the standard for when law enforcement officers can use deadly force. The Police Accountability and Community Protection Act (AB 931), introduced by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), would change the standard of firearm use from "reasonable use" to "necessary force," meaning officers would be permitted to open fire only when there is no other reasonable alternative to prevent injury or death. It is expected that this will significantly reduce the number of people killed by police.
Another bill, SB 1421, introduced by Senator Skinner (D-Berkeley), will honor the public's right to know by giving the public access to police records related to: 1) Serious use-of-force investigations, including investigations into police shootings, and 2) Sustained complaints against officers for sexual assault or other serious job-related dishonesty, such as perjury, falsifying police reports, and planting or destroying evidence.
But legislators have proposed other similar police accountability measures since the 2006 California Supreme Court Copley decision, only to see them die in various committees after police lobbies such as the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) object to the bills. Perhaps this time will be different.
‘Please Give Us Justice': New California Law Aims to Hold Police Accountable | California Lawmakers Challenge Police Lethal Force Standard After Stephon Clark Shooting |
![photo](/im/imc_photo.gif)
Related Features: That Didn't Last Long: Police Transparency Bill Not Even Given a Full Vote | New California Bill Promises Increased Transparency in Law Enforcement Misconduct Records
2024-06-11
If Passed, Measure J Will Ban "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations"
Front Page
| North Bay / Marin
| Government & Elections
| Animal Liberation2024-06-11
Activists Stand in Solidarity with Horses Who Lost Their Lives at Race Track
Front Page
| East Bay
| Animal Liberation2024-06-11
Two Years After Shireen Abu Akleh Was Killed, There Still Is No Justice
Front Page
| Anti-War
| Media Activism & Independent Media
| San Francisco
| International
| Palestine2024-06-11
Crisis Team Provides Students with Non-Police Response to Mental Health Crises
Front Page
| Police State & Prisons
| Health, Housing & Public Services
| Education & Student Activism
| California
| Santa Cruz Indymedia2024-06-11
Only a Couple of Thousand Adult Leatherback Turtles Remain in the Pacific Ocean
Front Page
| Environment & Forest Defense
| San Francisco
| Peninsula
| North Bay / Marin
| North Coast
| California
| Animal Liberation
| Santa Cruz Indymedia2024-05-25
Demonstrators Denounce Tech Giant's Contracts with Israeli Military
Front Page
| Anti-War
| Peninsula
| U.S.
| International
| Palestine2024-05-13
Actions Call on Biden to Declare a Climate Emergency and End Fossil Fuels
Front Page
| Environment & Forest Defense
| Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism
| Education & Student Activism
| San Francisco
| Peninsula
| California
| U.S.
| Palestine2024-05-08
Resistance to Deceptive Forest Service Measure Is Growing
Front Page
| Environment & Forest Defense
| Central Valley
| California
| U.S.2024-05-08
Regulators Fail to Protect Schoolchildren from Repeated Exposure to Dangerous Pesticides
Front Page
| Environment & Forest Defense
| Racial Justice
| Health, Housing & Public Services
| Labor & Workers
| Education & Student Activism
| Santa Cruz Indymedia2024-04-24
Across the Globe, Students Set Up Encampments in Solidarity with Palestinians
Front Page
| Police State & Prisons
| Anti-War
| Education & Student Activism
| Central Valley
| San Francisco
| South Bay
| East Bay
| Peninsula
| North Bay / Marin
| North Coast
| California
| U.S.
| International
| Palestine
| Santa Cruz Indymedia2024-04-09
Deal Described as One of the Most Significant Urban Land Back Victories in US History
Front Page
| Environment & Forest Defense
| Racial Justice
| East Bay
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network