Bill Text: MI HR0129 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: A resolution to urge the U.S. Department of Justice to increase the use of consent decrees to hold police departments accountable.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-06-15 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [HR0129 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2021-HR0129-Introduced.html

 

 

house resolution no.129

Reps. Hood, Yancey, Aiyash, Scott, Puri, Brabec, Steckloff, O'Neal, Rogers, Neeley, Stone, Sowerby, Brixie, Brenda Carter, Thanedar, Weiss, Young, Rabhi and Jones offered the following resolution:

A resolution to urge the U.S. Department of Justice to increase the use of consent decrees to hold police departments accountable.

Whereas, In 1994, Congress enacted legislation directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate local law enforcement agencies for practices of unconstitutional policing. In situations where unconstitutional policing practices are identified, the DOJ has authority to enter into consent decrees that mandate specific changes to policing practices; and

Whereas, Consent decrees, which operate as legally binding agreements between the DOJ and police departments, are approved and enforced by federal courts. Consent decrees provide the DOJ with the ability to hold law enforcement agencies accountable when incidents of misconduct arise. The consent decrees focus on reducing police misconduct, such as excessive use of force, and mandate proper procedures within police departments; and

Whereas, In 2018, the DOJ significantly restricted the use of consent decrees, requiring that consent decrees be approved by senior leadership rather than DOJ lawyers and have a set termination date. These limits resulted in a lapse in oversight over law enforcement agencies that do not obey the law, making it impossible for the DOJ to address police brutality and other issues of misconduct; and

Whereas, Under Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, the DOJ policy that curbed the use of consent decrees was rescinded. With authority to investigate and enter into agreements with local law enforcement, the DOJ must use the administrative tools it has been given by Congress to the fullest extent possible and enforce reforms in police departments accused of officer misconduct; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the U.S. Department of Justice to increase the use of consent decrees to hold police departments accountable; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General of the United States.

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