Consensus Question #6 - Today's question, which is divided into seven parts, relates to Policing. The current League of Women Voters of Illinois position is stated below, followed by the updated consensus study questions on this topic.

Existing Position: NONE

Reforming the criminal justice system has become a bipartisan priority and a topic of intense public interest. Much of the focus is on reversing mass incarceration: lowering the numbers of people in prison and jail, creating constructive pathways for people returning to their communities, and addressing the stark racial and ethnic disparities that have been a primary feature of the American criminal justice system.

The Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing was submitted to the President in May 2015. It lists these six pillars of just policing: building trust and legitimacy, policy and oversight; technology and social media, community policing and crime reduction, officer training and education, and officer safety and wellness.

Consensus Questions:

6a: Is building trust and nurturing legitimacy on both sides of the police/citizen divide foundational to positive relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve?

PRO: Police are called upon to respond to several issues that would be better handled by the public health system or social services. The purpose of law enforcement is to protect and serve rather than a warrior mindset in which police officers are trained and equipped like soldiers. The President’s Task Force makes a strong claim:

“Building trust and nurturing legitimacy on both sides of the police/citizen divide is the foundational principle underlying the nature of relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve...”

Some of the key recommendations from the President’s Task Force include:

1. Law enforcement culture should embrace a guardian mindset rather than a warrior mindset in

   which police officers are trained and equipped like soldiers.

2. “Law enforcement agencies should acknowledge the role of policing in past and present injustice and discrimination and how it is a hurdle to the promotion of community trust.”

3. Procedural justice is based on four central principles: treating people with dignity and respect, giving individuals ‘voice’ during encounters, being neutral and transparent in decision making, and conveying trustworthy motives.

4. “Law enforcement agencies...should make available” data about “stops, summonses, arrest, reported crime, and other law enforcement data aggregated by demographics."

5. When there are incidents of possible police misconduct, “agencies should communicate with citizens and the media swiftly, openly, and neutrally...”

6. “Law enforcement agencies should ...promote public trust” by creating “opportunities for interactions that are positive and not related to investigation or enforcement action.”

CON: These reforms cannot be accomplished without the abolition of the police and the prison system. There are a significant number of organizations who share the same goals of structural reform, but argue that it cannot be achieved within the given institutional structure and composition of law enforcement agencies and the power and influence of police unions who resist police accountability and the move from a warrior to a guardian mindset. For the type of system of equitable and just “protectand serve” described here to be achieved, they argue for the abolition of the police and the prison system.

6b: Should law enforcement agencies collaborate with community members to develop policies and strategies to reduce crime?

PRO: The community’s involvement is essential if law enforcement is to respond effectively and properly. The President’s Task Force recommends:

1. Every community should define the appropriate form and structure of civilian oversight to meet the needs of that community.

2. Police officers should be trained to use alternative tools in lieu of use of force when possible and use of force training should include de-escalation technique and alternatives to arrests or summons.

3. Incidents involving suspect death or officer-involved shootings should be subject to both external and internal oversight.

4. Law enforcement agencies should create policies and procedures for policing mass demonstrations that employ a continuum of managed tactical resources that are designed to minimize the appearance of a military operation and avoid using provocative tactics and equipment that undermine civilian trust.

5. Agencies should refrain from using practices such as quotas for traffic or pedestrian stops, tickets, and summonses that are not directly related to improving public safety (such as for generating revenue).

CON: See 6a CON.
6c: Should law enforcement adopt model policies and best practices for current technology-based

community engagement that increases community trust and access?

PRO: Transparency, accountability, and accuracy are needed. Types of technology that are not desirable are those that are more appropriate for the military than for the police.

Some of the key recommendations from the President’s Task Force include:

1. Law enforcement agencies “should support the development of new 'less than lethal'

   technology to help control combative suspects."

2. Law enforcement agencies should use the best available technology, such as body cameras, to accurately record the actions of police and community members.

3. Law enforcement agencies should deploy smart technology that is designed to prevent the tampering with or manipulating of evidence.

CON: See 6a CON.

6d: Should community policing be the guiding philosophy for all stakeholders (law enforcement agencies, schools, social services, churches, and businesses)?
(Definition: Community Policing emphasizes working with neighborhood residents to coproduce public safety.)

PRO: The President’s Task Force provides the following definition of community policing:

“Community policing emphasizes working with neighborhood residents to coproduce public safety. Communities should support a culture and practice of policing that reflects the values of protection and promotion of the dignity of all—especially the most vulnerable, such as children and youth most at risk for crime or violence. Law enforcement agencies should avoid using law enforcement tactics that unnecessarily stigmatize youth and marginalize their participation in schools (where law enforcement officers should have limited involvement in discipline) and communities."

Some of the key recommendations from the President’s Task Force include:

1. Community policing should be infused throughout the culture and organizational structure of

   law enforcement agencies. Community policing must be a way of doing business by an entire police force, not just a specialized unit of that force.

2. Law enforcement agencies should consider adopting preferences for seeking “least harm” resolutions, such as diversion programs or warnings and citations in lieu of arrest for minor infractions.

3. Law enforcement officers’ goal should be to avoid use of force if possible, even when it is allowed by law and by policy.

4. Because offensive or harsh language can escalate a minor situation, law enforcement agencies should underscore the importance of language used and adopt policies directing officers to speak to individuals with respect.

By getting the community involved, police will have more resources available for crime-prevention activities, instead of being forced into an after-the-fact response to crime.

Statistics on unreported crime suggest that in many cases police are not aware of existing problems. Without strong ties to the community, police may not have access to pertinent information from citizens that could help solve or deter crime.

Community institutions are the first line of defense against disorder and crime. It is essential that the police work closely with all facets of the community to identify concerns and to find the most effective solutions. This is the essence of community policing.

Crime-control tactics need to be augmented with strategies that prevent crime, reduce the fear of crime, and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods.

CON: See 6a CON. Not all officers are interested in or suited for community policing

https://www.thenation.com/article/what-is-prison-abolition/

https://www.themarshallproject.org/records/4766-prison-abolition

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (relevant to Community Policing):
What is Community Policing? by Mitch Lortz, December 28, 2016
Community policing is a law enforcement strategy that has been around since the early 80s in the United States. Most people in the public safety sector have likely heard this term before, but what does community policing really mean?

Community Policing is generally defined as "a law enforcement philosophy that allows officers to continuously operate in the same area in order to create a stronger bond with the citizens living and working in that area." This allows public safety officers to engage with local residents and prevent crime from happening instead of responding to incidents after they occur.

How is community policing different from traditional policing?
• Intended to prevent crime before it happens rather than responding to crime after it occurs
• Focuses on creating a safe social environment
• Engages residents to determine which criminal activities they are most affected by, creating an

accurate law enforcement priority list shaped by the people who live in the area
• Encourages residents to participate with law enforcement in order to keep their own

community safe.

In its simplest form, community policing creates a partnership between law enforcement and residents. The more involved law enforcement is with the residents they are sworn to protect, the more residents can help law enforcement achieve their goals.

What are the benefits of an effective community policing structure?

• Residents having a more favorable view of their local police department

• Improved trust between law enforcement and residents

• More accurate information from residents regarding criminal activity in their community

• Better understanding of the needs of citizens and their expectations of the police

  Many public safety agencies are using technology to better engage their residents and boost their community policing initiatives. Systems like Everbridge Nixle use tools such as mass notification, 2-way communication, anonymous tipping, and social media integration to engage residents on the platforms and devices they use most.

  President Obama created a Task Force on “21st Century Policing” on December 18, 2014.
  The Task Force was given the responsibility of "identifying best policing practices and offering recommendations on how policing practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust."

  The Final Report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing is an evidence-based proposal of what is essential for just policing in a democratic society. The Task Force was created “in light of recent events around the country that have underscored the need for and importance of lasting collaborative

relationships between local police and the public.” The Task Force worked with “law enforcement officials, technical advisors, youth and community leaders...to identify best policing practices and offer recommendation on how those practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust." Crime-control tactics need to be augmented with strategies that prevent crime, reduce the fear of crime, and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods.

Source: Illinois Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)

It is important to provide incentives and support for the establishment of local Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils to develop strategic plans to address crime and corrections policy.

Rationale
Historically there has been insufficient coordination and cooperation between the State and local agencies when it comes to criminal justice planning. The State provides funding for local criminal justice issues from a variety of sources directed toward a variety of local entities, but there is no coordinating mechanism that allows the State to learn how this funding fits in with a local jurisdiction’s overall criminal justice needs, nor is there a coordinated way for local governments to learn from the experiences and data in the hands of the State. Most crime is local; and the needs of local law enforcement, governments, and the community often vary by region. The result is an insular approach to funding local needs; and as a result, State spending on criminal justice is often misaligned. To make more effective use of the State’s criminal justice resources, local jurisdictions should form Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils (CJCCs). These Councils are strategic planning bodies that bring together representatives from justice system agencies, other governmental bodies, service providers, and the community to create strategic plans to help local jurisdictions address their crime problems as well as help reduce their use of prison as a sanction. With technical support from the State, including data analysis and guidance in the strategic planning process, CJCCs can help local jurisdictions target their specific crime problems and learn how the State’s resources can best be used to address them.

Implementation
Crime-control tactics need to be augmented with strategies that prevent crime, reduce the fear of crime, and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods.

Provide incentives and support for the establishment of local Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils to develop strategic plans to address crime and corrections policy.

• The Legislature should amend the Crime Reduction Act of 2009 to provide authority for the formulation of Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils and set forth minimum membership requirements on CJCCs to ensure representation of those outside the criminal justice system, such as service providers and community representatives.

• The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) should assess the various criminal justice councils and advisory boards that currently exist at the local level. This assessment should determine how these existing councils may relate to or already embody the principles of the proposed CJCCs.

  6e Should quality training and education begin with recruits and continue throughout an officer's career?

  PRO: Police need better and ongoing training according to the President’s Task Force in

• Policing in a democratic society

• Community policing and problem solving principles

• Implicit bias and cultural responsiveness

• Social interaction skills and tactical skills

• Crisis intervention teams (mental health, addiction, spectrum disorders)

• How to work with LGBT and gender nonconforming populations

• Languages and cultural responsiveness.

  The goal is to lessen bad outcomes and increase better ones, as officers feel better prepared and more confident in stress-producing situations. It is rigorous and ongoing training that might finally "abolish” the system and transform our law enforcement into truly "serve and protect” guardians.

  Response: With the variety of different types of situations that police are called upon to deal with, it is essential that police officers increase their knowledge base. Scenario-based training is much more useful than lectured learning. These can be done virtually as well as in traditional classroom settings. Modern methods must be used. Adults learn better in interactive settings and in learn-by-doing settings. The Department of Justice, institutions of higher learning, and law enforcement organizations can collaborate to produce training programs that are relevant to the current situation and to improve current police culture. Leadership programs can help law enforcement executives to adapt programs for their specific communities. It is important that police training be on-going as well as at the recruit stage to keep up with societal changes and improved training methods.

  CON: See 6a CON. The cost of such extensive and ongoing training for all officers is prohibitive.

  Response: While research has shown that much of the training recommended has positive effects on learning and attitudes, it is much harder to measure behavior. Trainees are also influenced by support (or lack thereof) from the organization and motivation. Possible cost-saving alternatives would have to wait until there is more data, or to train only certain selected officers, such as those in a leadership position, who would model the behavior.

  For further information:
  PRO: The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing Implementation Guide: Moving from Recommendations to Action, https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/Publications/cops-p311-pub.pdf

  CON: International Association of Chiefs of Police, An Evidence-Assessment of the Recommendations of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing — Implementation and Research Prioritieshttps://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/all/i- j/IACP%20GMU%20Evidence%20Assessment%20Report%20FINAL.pdf

  6f: Is the wellness (health) and safety of law enforcement officers critical not only for the officers, their colleagues, and their agencies but also to public safety?

  PRO: Good physical health and good mental health are essential for police officers to be effective and safe in their work. The Final Report of the President’s Task Force found that officer suicide is also a problem: a national study using data of the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance found that police died from suicide 2.4 times as often as from homicides.

  Response: Long shifts and dangerous work can result in sleep deprivation, stress reactions, and fatigue. This, in turn, can impair judgment, alertness, and job performance. Many officer injuries are caused by

car accidents. It is important for officers to have proper equipment, such as ballistic proof vests, first-aid kits, and first-aid training. Health insurance needs to be comprehensive for both mental and physical health. Regular wellness checks, including mental wellness, should be provided. An anonymous hotline staffed by peers from other police departments should be provided for officers to get advice on stress reactions. Work environments should be supportive. Except in unavoidable emergency situations, long shifts should not be assigned. Neutral discussions of physical fitness, officer fatigue, and stress can take place at training and in roll calls.

CON: See 6a CON.
It should be the responsibility of individual officers to seek the mental health and physical health support and treatment that they need.

Response: This could work if the officers have adequate health insurance plans and follow the health recommendations. Some don’t get mental health checks even after a traumatic incident because they feel that the work environment as well as the general culture sees this as a stigma. However, most health programs have privacy stipulations. Also, referring to a program as a “wellness program” instead of a “stress management” program could reduce the officer’s negative reaction.

For further information:
PRO: http://civilrightsdocs.info/pdf/testimony/Written_Testimony_Lynda_Garcia... e%2009.19.19.pdf (pro)

6g. Is it desirable for police to use alternatives whenever possible to deflect offenders from arrest?

PRO: Police are called upon to respond to a number of issues that would be better handled by the public health system or social services. Too often police officers rely on intrusive measures that leave residents feeling overpoliced and under protected. Police may allow fear, distrust, and rancor to germinate between them and the communities they serve. A new model is needed: one that rebuilds trust, maintains public safety, and reserves arrest as a last resort.

Response: Some police officers are being trained in crisis intervention in order to better deal with people who are having a mental health crisis. This usually results in a better outcome without an arrest. There are cases in which a potentially violent situation can be de-escalated by bringing in a representative from a community organization, such as Cure Violence. In this instance, a community member who is trained in such things would be more trusted than a police officer. Here, the police would only be called as a last resort if the violent situation could not be de-escalated. This organization has been effective. Unfortunately, they are privately funded and running out of grant money. Could funds be diverted from the police budget to fund organizations such as this? In addition, homeless people can be arrested for loitering. Directing them to a shelter or social service organization would be a better alternative.

CON: Many officers do not see themselves as social workers, nor do they want to be seen that way.

Response: Without specialized training, it would be difficult for an officer to perform duties better left to social workers. A possible solution would be to diversify 911 calls, so that certain types of calls were sent to social workers; and the police would be called only in situations involving home invasion, active

shooters, and truly violent offenders. Another possibility would be to have social workers accompany police officers on calls. The remainder of their time could then be spent on investigations.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Crisis-Intervention/Crisis-Intervention-Team-(CIT)-Programs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1bsBkjpcXKby6bsr78t5Iv0E6LeGUSX... hx0La6C8p11WMa7M&index=1&list=PLQ9B-p5Q- YONhIHLf06xUiKGDH1U2UUgR&v=Fhg4M0GGTJI&app=desktop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1bsBkjpcXKby6bsr78t5Iv0E6LeGUSX... hx0La6C8p11WMa7M&index=1&list=PLQ9B-p5Q- YONhIHLf06xUiKGDH1U2UUgR&v=Fhg4M0GGTJI&app=desktop

FINAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT’S TASK FORCE ON 21 ST CENTURY POLICING

http://www.gbfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Presidents-task-force-o... Policing.pdf (Policing)

https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/all/i- j/IACP%20GMU%20Evidence%20Assessment%20Report%20FINAL.pdf

GATEKEEPERS: THE ROLE OF POLICE IN ENDING MASS INCARCERATION, VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE AUGUST 2019, S. Rebecca Neusteter, Ram Subramanian, Jennifer Trone, Mawia Khagali, and Cindy Reed,https://www.vera.org/publications/gatekeepers-police-and-mass-incarceration (Policing, IDOC: Incarceration, Mandatory Supervised Release)

My Block, My Hood, My City (21 minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1nNBukmgM9wG2p_EMPsl- hdCp1aLrm4msxdhBQEAohOi60QDBnv9SaS2U&feature=youtu.be&v=Tmt2EkAuhOI&app=desktop

What is Prison Abolition? https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/what-is-prison-abolition/ If you would like more information on this question, please contact one of the following League

(Downers Grove, Lisle, Woodridge) members:

Question parts a, b, and c: Donna Prepejchal at dprepejcha [at] comcast.net Question part d: Hanna Benioff at benioff0 [at] gmail.com
Question parts e, f, and g: Mary Hobein at mhobein [at] hotmail.com