Jeff Sessions Has Ordered A Review Of Obama-Era Police Reforms
Jeff Sessions Has Ordered A Review Of Obama-Era Police Reforms
These include consent decrees, which were created to better equip police officers. Find out more here.
These include consent decrees, which were created to better equip police officers. Find out more here.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently released a two-page memo, in which he ordered a review of Obama-era police reforms, including "consent decrees," or formal reform agreements, overseen by federal courts, which help combat "systemic deficiencies" in officer training and resources that often lead to higher rates of patterns of racial discrimination and excessive force.
Sessions, who has been skeptical of these reforms from before the time of his confirmation hearings, said at the time of those hearings:
I think there is concern that good police officers and good departments can be sued by the Department of Justice when you just have individuals within a department that have done wrong.
Jeff Sessions
CNN, April 4, 2017
Sessions continued, speaking further on the wrongdoings of individuals rather than the systematic shortcomings consent decrees are designed to address.
These lawsuits undermine the respect for police officers and create an impression that the entire department is not doing their work consistent with fidelity to law and fairness, and we need to be careful before we do that.
Jeff Sessions
CNN, April 4, 2017
In addition to requesting the review of consent decrees, however, the Department of Justice under Sessions has also requested that Baltimore, whose consent decree was originally reached in January, to postpone its hearing until June.
The Department must ensure that such contemplated consent decrees advance the safety and protection of the public, promote officer safety and morale, protect and respect the civil rights of all members of the public.
Department of Justice
CNN, April 4, 2017
But now, what we want to know is...
Do you think consent decrees should be nullified by Sessions?
Do you think consent decrees should be nullified by Sessions?