Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today joined his colleagues, led by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), in introducing the Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act, legislation which would improve policing practices across the United States.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today joined his colleagues, led by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), in introducing the Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act, legislation which would improve policing practices across the United States.
“While the great majority of our law enforcement personnel in Utah and across our country do a heroic job, there are issues of oversight and accountability that need to be corrected, particularly when it comes to treatment of people of color,” Senator Romney said. “Our legislation will help to correct these weaknesses by strengthening de-escalation training, requiring reporting on use of force, and collecting data and developing best practices that will help us evaluate and improve policing. I appreciate Senator Scott’s leadership on this effort, and I urge my colleagues to work together toward a bipartisan solution that will build greater trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
The full text of the JUSTICE Act is available here, a section by section analysis is available here, and a summary can be found below:
- Strengthens training methods and tactics, especially regarding de-escalation of force, and incentivizes ending the use of chokeholds.
- Reforms hiring practices with the aim of reducing bias and improving access to prior disciplinary records.
- Funds additional body cameras and proper data maintenance.
- Requires full reporting to the FBI of the use of “no knock warrants” and after incidents where an officer has discharged his or her weapon or used force.
- Makes lynching a federal crime.