Black Freedom Struggle in the United States:

Justice for Breonna Taylor

Congressional Record: Transcription of Barbara Lee’s comments on the police killing of Breonna Taylor, 2020

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020

House and Senate Reports: Recommends passage, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, of H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, to amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and three other acts to hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies., 2020

Oversight of Federal Programs for Equipping State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

Congressional Hearing: Hearing to examine Federal role and programs to provide State and local police with surplus DOD military equipment and Federal grant funding for tactical training and equipment, in light of concerns about alleged excessive use of military-type equipment and tactics by police in Ferguson, Mo., to maintain public safety and crowd control during protests and demonstrations in the days following Aug. 9, 2014, death of African-American teenager Michael Brown, who was killed by a white Ferguson, Mo., police officer. Background and Context: Since 1997, Federal agencies have supplied over $5 billion in surplus DOD supplies and equipment to law enforcement. Recent events in Ferguson, Mo., have raised concerns about whether State and local law enforcement use of military-type equipment and tactical training should be more closely examined., 2014

Public Trust and Law Enforcement-A Brief Discussion for Policymakers

CRS Report: Provides brief overview of police-community relations and how the Federal Government might be able to promote more accountability and better relationships between citizens and law enforcement. Examines public perception of law enforcement in general, Federalism and Congressional control over State and local law enforcement policy, Federal efforts to collect data on law enforcement use of force, and Department of Justice (DOJ) authority to investigate law enforcement misconduct. Discusses DOJ role in improving police-community relations, and considers policy options for Congress., 2016

Police Use of Force: Rules, Remedies, and Reforms

CRS Reports: Provides legal context for debate over police use of force in light of several high-profile police shootings and other law enforcement-related deaths. Examines constitutional rules governing use of force by the police, role of Congress in providing a remedy for violation of rules, and legislative proposals to reform these rules and remedies to rein in police use of excessive force and provide accountability., 2015

Police Misconduct, Part 1

Congressional Hearing: Hearings before the Subcom on Criminal Justice to examine the nature and extent of police misconduct and violence, including issues involved in police use of firearms and other deadly force. Focuses on allegations of racially motivated police abuse and brutality against minority groups., 1983

Police Misconduct, Part 2

Congressional Hearing: Continuation of hearings before the Subcom on Criminal Justice, in this volume held in Brooklyn, N.Y., to examine the nature and extent of police misconduct and violence., 1983

Federal Response to Police Misconduct

Congressional Hearing: Hearing before the Subcom on Civil and Constitutional Rights to examine the adequacy of civil and criminal remedies for police misconduct and brutality against crime suspects., 1992

116 H. Res. 1027 (Introduced in the House)

Bill text: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the wrongs and hardships of Black women are often equal to those experienced by Black men yet receive less attention and justice, and that any legislation passed in the House of Representatives to remedy racial inequities in the United States, especially those present in the criminal justice system, must include reforms to address concerns for Black women., 2020

116 S. 3912 (Introduced in the Senate): Justice in Policing Act of 2020; Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act; Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2020; Police Reporting Information, Data, and Evidence Act of 2020; PRIDE Act; End Racial and Religious Profiling Act of 2020; ERRPA; Federal Police Camera and Accountability Act; Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available Act of 2020; Police CAMERA Act of 2020; Police Exercising Absolute Care With Everyone Act of 2020; PEACE Act of 2020; Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act

Bill text: To hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies., 2020

State of Urban America

Congressional Hearings: Hearing to assess urban area economic conditions and adequacy of Federal aid to cities in view of Apr. 1992 riots in Los Angeles, Calif., and to examine urban economic deterioration, including increased poverty and unemployment, in the 20 years following National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (Kerner Commission) 1968 report predicting increased social inequalities., 1993

Police Brutality

Congressional Hearings: Hearings before the Subcom on Civil and Constitutional Rights to review concerns about the extent of police misconduct and excessive violence, in view of the videotaped Mar. 3, 1991 severe beating of black motorist Rodney King by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers after King’s forced halt for traffic offenses. Also examines the prevalence of racially motivated police brutality against minority groups., 1991