2022: Transparency

Lifting the Blue Veil of Silence: Legislative Proposals to Improve Transparency in Policing and Build Community Trust

Submitted by Jane Clayton on Fri, 06/17/2022 - 17:01

Access to police misconduct records is necessary to protect the public and ensure accountability in a range of contexts. The contents of disciplinary records provide insight into an individual officer’s suitability to serve in law enforcement. Similarly, these records shed light on patterns of police misconduct and help ensure communities can evaluate whether law enforcement agencies are conducting fair investigations into citizen complaints. Unfortunately, confidentiality laws in many states prohibit disclosure of this valuable information.

Nebraska Legislative Bill 882

Submitted by Jane Clayton on Wed, 06/15/2022 - 12:48

LB 882 will guarantee public access to information about police officer misconduct, which is critical to police accountability, the safety of communities, and the integrity of the criminal legal system. LB 882 will require police agencies to permanently retain records of misconduct, ensuring people who may suffer future abuse can access and share them with their legal representation and neighbors.