Should the Feds Incentivize Sensitivity Training for State Police Departments? (H.R. 2302)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is H.R. 2302?
(Updated July 18, 2019)
This bill would require states receiving federal funds from specific grant programs to mandate that state law enforcement officers or cadets receive sensitivity training each fiscal year or risk losing federal assistance. States that fail to comply with these requirements could face a 20 percent reduction in the grant funding that otherwise would’ve been awarded. The sensitivity training must include instruction on ethnic and racial bias, cultural diversity, and police interaction with the disabled, mentally ill, and new immigrants.
The state must must certify to the Attorney General that these training sessions have been completed, although these requirements could be waived if compliance with this legislation would violate a state’s constitution.
The Attorney General would be also be directed to reduce federal funding by 20 percent to state or local governments that failed to enact or put into effect a requirement that an independent prosecutor be appointed under the following circumstances:
One or more of the possible defendants is a law enforcement officer;
One or more of the alleged offenses involves the law enforcement officer’s use of deadly force in the course of carrying out their duty;
The law enforcement officer’s use of deadly force resulted in death or injury.
The federal grant programs that would be affected by this legislation are the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program, the Local Government Law Enforcement Block Grants Program, and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
Argument in favor
The federal government has an obligation to ensure that state law enforcement agencies put their officers and cadets through sensitivity training, and that special prosecutors are appointed to investigate police officers. Making grant funding conditional on putting these changes into effect will increase compliance by states and cities that need funding.
Argument opposed
Requiring states to appoint an independent prosecutor for investigations involving police officers or requiring cops to undergo sensitivity training will not significantly improve relations between law enforcement and their communities. Reducing the amount of grant funding that goes to state and local governments will have a negative impact on public.
Impact
Law enforcement officers and cadets who would undergo the sensitivity training and the members of the community who they would interact with; district attorneys and independent prosecutors; and the Attorney General.
Cost of H.R. 2302
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced this legislation with the goal of improving relations between law enforcement and the communities they protect while reducing the number police brutality incidents against minorities:
“America received a sobering wakeup call last year in Ferguson, followed by others in Staten Island, Cleveland, North Charleston, and more recently in Baltimore. The need for reform is as clear as it is urgent. Officers need better training. Excessive force must end. Justice shouldn’t just depend on whether a bystander catches bad acts on video. Expecting local prosecutors to prosecute the same officers upon whom they rely to do their job presents a clear conflict of interest, and it is unnecessary.”
This legislation currently has the support of 62 cosponsors in the House, all of whom are Democrats.
Media:
- Sponsoring Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) Press Release
- The Hill
- News Sentinel
- National Association of Police Organizations (Opposed)
- New Republic (In Favor)
- St. Louis American (Op-Ed In Favor)
(Photo Credit: Flickr user diana_robinson)
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