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Following the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, the USA TODAY editorial team decided that the time was ripe for a series of editorials aimed at making the police more accountable, protecting the public’s life and trust restore the law enforcement.
Here you are:
Terminate Qualified Immunity
Created by the Supreme Court in a series of judgments starting in 1967, Qualified Immunity means that if a victim wants to sue the police – or a government official – they must find a case in the Supreme Court or in their federal judicial process (the United States is divided) . in 12 circles), where a court ruled that the exact same situation violates constitutional rights. If she is unable to do so, these rights are deemed to be inconclusive and the door to the courtroom is locked. The absurdity of qualified immunity can be seen in the hair-splitting distinctions that courts make to let police officers off the hook.
A demonstration for George Floyd outside the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul on June 12, 2020.Jim Mone / AP
End no-kock warrants
Arrest warrants that allow police to break open doors without knocking or identifying themselves are particularly dangerous for civilians: at least 31 were killed between 2010 and 2016. But they can also be fatal to the police, eight of them during the same interval.
Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky.Courtesy of Taylor’s family attorney Sam Aguiar via AP
End of the so-called basic officer’s rights
These special regulations – some through state laws and others through police union contracts – make investigations difficult in many ways, making it almost impossible to fire a police officer for misconduct. However, because criminal charges against the police are so rare, the public usually only needs to hold the police accountable through internal investigations.
Most asset seizures are cash.Mark Wilson / Getty Images
End of the civil law financial collapse
Confiscation is supposed to fight crime by taking profits from scammers and drug dealers, and sometimes it does. But as it has been used for decades, it too often entangles law-abiding citizens who are never charged with a crime.
Police vehicle in Philadelphia on June 24, 2021.Matt Rourke / AP
No more unnecessary police checks
How about starting with a simple change? What if the police stopped stopping drivers – black and white – for technical violations unrelated to safety? In addition, young blacks should not have to endure racist traffic controls as a rite of passage.
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Published August 1, 2021 at 7:05 am UTC
Updated August 1, 2021 at 7:05 a.m. UTC
