Bill > S1643

This bill aims to protect equality and equal protection by law enforcement departments in the Commonwealth. It proposes several key provisions: 1. It requires certified and accredited law enforcement schools to allow representatives from the Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination to attend and observe the delivery of standardized training for recruit officers and in-service officers. 2. It mandates that law enforcement departments consider a candidate's record of interaction with the public and any documentation of civil rights violations or abuse of force as part of their hiring and promotional decisions. 3. It requires all law enforcement departments to develop and implement policies and procedures for reporting abuse by other law enforcement personnel without fear of retaliation. 4. It requires law enforcement departments to designate at least one officer responsible for compliance with constitutional provisions, laws, and regulations pertaining to equality and civil rights protection. 5. It establishes a grant program to provide incentives for law enforcement departments to train, evaluate, and counsel their members on civil rights, equal protection, and use of force. 6. It requires entities offering accreditation for law enforcement departments to include the evaluation and certification of policies regarding the protection of civil rights, equal protection, and prevention of abuse of force. 7. It mandates the civil rights division of the Attorney General's office, in consultation with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, to conduct a review of all law enforcement department policies related to civil rights, equal protection, and use of force every 5 years, and submit the findings and recommendations to the executive department and the legislature.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S1643