Press Releases

Springfield, MA - Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal co-sponsored H.R. 7120, the Justice in Policing Act, Democrats’ bold, transformative legislation to reimagine the culture of policing in America with unprecedented reforms to curb police brutality, end racial profiling, eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement and build greater trust between law enforcement and our communities. 

“In communities throughout Massachusetts and across the country, Americans are grieving for all those killed by a pattern of police brutality and are demanding action to end systemic racial injustices, particularly against the African American community,” said Congressman Neal.  “Thanks to the leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus, the transformative Justice in Policing Act delivers the reforms needed to address systemic racism and save lives while increasing transparency to ensure police are held accountable.  Our nation is built on the fundamental promise of equal justice for all, and we must continue to fight to fulfill that promise for all Americans.” 

This sweeping legislation will take numerous key steps to achieve transformative, structural change to combat the pattern of police brutality and racial injustice, including:

• Banning all chokeholds;
• Banning no-knock warrants in drug cases;
• Ending racial, religious and discriminatory profiling;
• Eliminating the qualified immunity doctrine that is a barrier to holding police officers accountable for wrongful conduct;
• Establishing a National Police Misconduct Registry to improve transparency and prevent problematic officers who are fired or leave one agency, from moving to another jurisdiction without any accountability;
• Requiring data collection, including mandatory body cameras and dashboard cameras;
• Establishing new standards for policing and the Public Safety Innovation grants for community-based organizations to help reimagine policing in their communities;
• Making lynching a federal hate crime; and more.

“I am honored to join my Democratic colleagues as an original co-sponsor of this life-saving legislation,” added Congressman Neal.  “I will continue to engage with my constituents and families throughout Massachusetts to ensure that we take any additional steps necessary to end police brutality and safeguard the civil rights of all Americans.”

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