Public Safety – Page 3

South City Tech Hub: Creating Digital Equity

Problem

The South City neighborhood in Tallahassee has one of the highest rates of families living in poverty in Leon County (44.8%). Due to COVID-19, almost 800 South City students were unable to experience equal learning opportunities as they did not have the devices, connectivity or technical assistance to fully participate in digital learning. Students are falling behind in school, parents lack the tech skills to support their students, access employment opportunities, or get medical and other services for themselves and their families.

Solution

The South City Tech Hub provides internet access, technical assistance, and skill building opportunities to Tallahassee’s South Side community by supporting school readiness and success for students and parents. The Tech Hub provides a resource for research, job search, connectivity, tele-health, schoolwork and even legal services.

New Standards for Police Use of Force

Problem

Over the last year and a half, the over policing of certain segments of our communities, particularly for Black and Brown residents, has reached a point of reckoning. Communities across the county have faced terrible incidents of excessive use of force at the hands of police, and Montgomery County, Maryland has not been immune. Here in Montgomery County the data demonstrates disparities. While Black residents make up about 20 percent of the county, they make up 55% of use of force incidents. With Latino residents included, that accounts for over 75% of use of force incidents by police. Unfortunately, we have had incidents of police killing black residents and have also had very public incidents of excessive use of force. But for cell phone and body cameras, these incidents would not have come to light.

Solution

We drafted a law to amend the police use of force policy. This policy prohibits a police officer from using deadly force except when absolutely necessary, when no other alternatives are available. This includes prohibiting neck or carotid restraints and striking a restrained individual. The bill bans no-knock warrants and shooting from or at moving vehicles, unless the vehicle is being used as a weapon and the circumstances would authorize the use of deadly force.

The policy must provide guidelines protecting individuals without regard to race, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. Rules must protect vulnerable community members and populations disproportionately impacted.

The law requires officers to stop or attempt to stop the use of excessive force or the commission of a crime by another officer. Officers who intervene must not be retaliated against or disciplined for taking action.

Equal Access to Justice for Victims and Witnesses of Violent Crimes and Human Trafficking

Problem

The U and T visa programs were created back in 2000 with bipartisan support in Congress to benefit both victims and witnesses as well as law enforcement agencies. Certifications from law enforcement agencies assist victims and witnesses in applying for immigrant protections, and facilitate cooperation with law enforcement from communities that are sometimes wary of law enforcement. Victims and witnesses of crime and trafficking have to submit the certification in order to start the application process. While many agencies and jurisdictions have processes in place for victims and witnesses to obtain certifications, many others do not, and several have not encountered these requests before. As a result, many victims will wait years to get a certification, and many will wait indefinitely, not getting a response at all.

Solution

This idea increases victim and witness participation in the criminal legal system and promotes public safety and assistance to law enforcement by creating a consistent victim certification process for vulnerable immigrant victims and witnesses of crime and trafficking, and standardizes the process for law enforcement, prosecution, and investigatory agencies to provide victims who have been helpful in an investigation or prosecution of serious crimes, described in the federal Violence Against Women Act, the certification form they need to help them apply for a U-visa or a T-visa. It does not require that a law enforcement agency provide certification. It only requires that a decision be made within ninety days. If there are extenuating circumstances, the agency must provide a written explanation for the delay and projected timeline for the issuance of a decision.

Achieving Meaningful Police Reform

NewDEAL Leader Columbus, OH City Attorney Zach Klein wrote an op-ed this week, “Calling for police reform does not make you anti-police”. Klein argues that meaningful police reform must both assure accountability and give officers the tools they need to protect and serve the people of his city. “If the community and police come together as trusted partners in this effort, we can succeed in making our city a safer place for all of us,” said Klein. Klein also highlighted some of the impactful reforms already underway in Columbus with support of residents and law enforcement, such as implementing the city’s first civilian police review board, engaging the Bureau of Criminal Investigations to review all CPD-involved shootings, instituting community immersion training for police recruits, changing the way police engage with First Amendment-protected protesters, and more. Check out the op-ed here.

Reforming Louisville’s Police Department

After the murder of Breonna Taylor and the protests that followed, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer commissioned an independent, top-to-bottom review of his city’s police department. The results of the review, which conducted over 100 interviews and include a roadmap to reform, were released at a press conference on Thursday, where Mayor Fischer noted that the audit underscored the pain felt in the community and within the department. The roadmap ahead for the police and the city includes the passage of Breonna’s Law to ban no-knock warrants and mandate body cameras, the creation of a civilian police review board, and the creation of a system to deploy social workers for appropriate calls. Read the city’s summary of the report or see the full, 155-page review here.

South City Tech Hub: Creating Digital Equity

Problem

Solution

New Standards for Police Use of Force

Problem

Solution

Equal Access to Justice for Victims and Witnesses of Violent Crimes and Human Trafficking

Problem

Solution

Achieving Meaningful Police Reform

Reforming Louisville’s Police Department

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