Civilian Review Boards

Brief

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Key Observations

Citizen review boards offer transparency and accountability currently lacking in many police agencies and can improve trust between law enforcement and communities.
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There are approximately 150 civilian review boards affiliated with large police departments in the U.S.
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40% of civilian oversight boards have the authority to subpoena witnesses, and about 50% have the authority to subpoena records.

Remediation of the “reasonable doubt” standard is essential to achieve actionable oversight powers grounded in all areas of police oversight.

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Civilian Review Boards

The police shooting of Jacob Blake and the police killing of Breonna Taylor demonstrate that people are at significant risk of harm, and even death, when excessive force practices are perpetrated with impunity. In both incidents, the officers involved were absolved of criminal charges, which is consistent with a national pattern indicating that police officers rarely face criminal charges for excessive use of force, and if they do, they are unlikely to be convicted.This underscores the dire need for an independent citizen review board with authority to investigate complaints of police brutality, discrimination, and other misconduct. This is the eighth in a series of action briefs on police reform.

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Other Reports

Corporate Impact in the Age of Racial Equity and Justice Reform

Black in America