2021 California New Police Reforms
In the wake of last summer’s civil unrest, California initiated new police reforms that went into effect on January 1, 2021. The changes reflect an attempt to both improve police-community relations and prevent tragedies like that seen in the George Floyd case. The new reforms may not directly affect you or your criminal case, but understanding the new system is vital to ensuring it is appropriately implemented.
California Attorney General Investigates Officer-Involved Shootings
The first of the three main new police reforms involves how the state handles cases when the police shoot unarmed citizens. When law enforcement guns down the people they are intended to protect and serve, community members have rightly demanded both answers and justice. In far too many cases for far too long, the government provided neither.
Now, the highest law enforcement official in the entire state is tasked with investigating every time an officer shoots an unarmed citizen. This new reform removes responsibility for the case from the local police or sheriff’s office all the way to Sacramento. Previously, officers would investigate their own colleagues after a shooting. The system invited questions of whether law enforcement could treat one of its own impartially.
The attorney general is an elected official who reports to the citizens themselves, not a police chief or sheriff. Their office now must establish a website to track the status and outcome of every shooting investigation. They are charged with making the decision whether to file criminal charges against the officer or officer. Hopefully, this will create more transparency and help secure justice in cases that may have previously gone unprosecuted.
New Police Reforms Require Officer Bias Training
Another plank of California’s new police reforms will require law enforcement personnel throughout the state to go through implicit bias training. Implicit bias is occurs when someone automatically categorizes an individual based on their characteristics, even when they are not aware of it. It is not necessarily hostile racism or discrimination but instead lurks deep in someone’s mind.
For example, if an officer approaches all African Americans living in a certain neighborhood warily, that may be implicit bias. The police officer may believe everyone there is likely a gang member or drug dealer, leading to unjust outcomes for residents. The new training is designed to reveal and eliminate the biases that may motivate individual members of law enforcement.
Additionally, every police officer will be screened by a doctor in a psychological evaluation. The goal of the doctor’s visit is to ensure implicit biases are not carried by officers onto the street.
California Bans Police Chokeholds
The final part of California’s police reforms is a new official ban on police chokeholds statewide. Cutting off or restricting the carotid artery in the neck is a tactic for law enforcement to subdue supposedly unruly or resisting suspects. Sometimes, this type of restraint can have had tragic consequences, most notably in the George Floyd and Eric Garner cases. Each man lost his life after a carotid hold from the police. Under the new rules, this tactic cannot be used by police anywhere in California.
Avoiding further death at the hands of police is at the root of all three police reforms. The horrible consequences of implicit bias, officer-involved shootings, and police chokeholds have unduly impacted minorities and underserved communities. As of 2021, California is taking steps to hold police accountable and reduce the likelihood of additional tragedies.
If you have any questions about how California’s new police reforms impact you or your criminal case, Chambers Law Firm is here. Set up an initial consultation today by calling 714-760-4088 or emailing dchambers@clfca.com.
