ACLU Comment on House Judiciary Vote on Divisive Policing Bills

April 27, 2017 12:15 pm

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WASHINGTON – The House Judiciary Committee is voting this morning on two policing bills in advance of National Police Week, which begins on May 14.

One of the bills, titled the “Thin Blue Line Act,” is an unnecessary expansion of the federal death penalty. The other bill, titled the “Probation Officer Protection Act,” would give federal probation officers additional arrest authorities. This creates public safety concerns, raises Fourth Amendment questions, and undermines the reentry into society of individuals on probation.

Kanya Bennett, ACLU legislative counsel, issued the following comment on these two bills:

“Congress should be advancing police reforms that are supported by both law enforcement and the communities they serve, but, unfortunately, these bills only cater to Attorney General Sessions and President Trump’s misguided ‘law and order’ agenda. It is crucial for our public safety to rebuild the relationship between police and the people. Yet these two bills under consideration today by the House Judiciary Committee will only further increase the divide.”

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