What the Police Practices STAT Package would do: Senate Bills 333-343 would make common-sense changes to how police officers handle interactions with community members to prevent the use of excessive force. Crafted through extensive work with community stakeholders and law enforcement, these common-sense reforms would ensure Michigan remains a leader in advancing policies that enhance public safety and uphold justice for all.
The proposed changes include:
- SB 336 (GEISS): Limits use of no-knock warrants, providing several specific instructions regarding when and how they can be used by an officer who must be in uniform or identifiable as a police officer.
- SB 335 (JOHNSON): Requires all law enforcement agencies adopt a duty to intervene policy, which would direct officers to intervene when observing another officer using excessive force and report the incident to the immediate supervisor.
- SB 333 (CHANG): Mandates all police agencies create use-of-force policies that include a requirement for officers to only use physical force that is “objectively reasonable;” standards for and alternatives to using physical force, including de-escalation techniques; and classifying chokeholds as “deadly force.”
- SBs 337-338 (SANTANA): Cracks down on body camera tampering, allowing digital images or video and audio recordings from body-worn cameras be permitted as “tampering with evidence.” The bill also prohibits an officer from purposely deactivating a camera while using excessive force.
- SB 334 (IRWIN): Requires law enforcement officers to receive training vetted by behavioral health experts in de-escalation techniques, implicit bias, procedural justice, and crisis response.
- SB 341 (ANTHONY): Requires the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) to ensure consistency in background checks prior to licensure of an individual and to revoke a license if the individual is convicted of a misdemeanor involving domestic violence.
- SBs 339-340 (MOSS, VICTORY): Requires a separation record to include any disciplinary process or investigation against an officer; gives MCOLES the authority to create a provisional separation of service record; and guarantees due process for an officer if they disagree with the contents of their separation of service or provisional separation of service records.
- SB 342 (MCBROOM): Ensures that protection for compulsory statements by police officers during internal investigations of wrongdoing will only protect truthful statements.
- SB 343 (CAVANAGH): Prohibits a person from knowingly disclosing information in a misconduct complaint against an officer that personally identifies the individual who filed the complaint unless there is a court order or the person who filed the complaint gives permission to be identified.
- Popular Policies: Improving accountability in our police departments is not just an issue shared by legislators on both sides of the aisle; Michiganders across the political spectrum want safety in their communities as well, and that includes safety in interactions with law enforcement officials. Results from a 2023 YouGov poll show that among Michiganders, 90% support duty to intervene policies, 78% support body cam tampering policies, and 74% support use of force policies, alongside other data showcasing their support for policies to improve police standards and community trust.
- Bipartisan and Outside Support: The package includes bills sponsored by several members of both parties, including Sens. Johnson, Victory, and McBroom among Republicans. Along with the support of bipartisan state policymakers and Michigan residents, several faith leaders, community groups, and councils are also calling for its adoption, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Black Leadership Advisory Council, the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, Everytown for Gun Safety, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, ACLU of Michigan, NAACP Michigan State Conference, NAACP Detroit Branch, Michigan Catholic Conference, Prison Fellowship, Safe and Just Michigan, and the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration.
- Status and Next Steps: The Police Practices S.T.A.T. legislation awaits consideration in the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety. Safe & Just Michigan urges the committee to schedule the STAT package for a hearing, and for committee members to support this important legislation and vote to move it to the Senate floor.
Download>> Policing S.T.A.T Legislation Fact Sheet
The post Safe & Just Michigan Supports the Police Practices Standardization, Transparency, and Trust (S.T.A.T.) Legislation (Senate Bills 333-343) appeared first on Safe & Just Michigan.