First Appearance
April 2021
The First Appearance is an NCSL digital newsletter for state legislators, legislative staff and others interested in pretrial release policy. This newsletter provides monthly updates on state interests, actions and resources and provides links to the latest research.
Contents
First Appearance
Legislatures Address Police Accountability
At least 16 states and the District of Columbia have restricted law enforcement use of neck restraints. And four states—Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Mexico—have limited officer immunity from civil suit for misconduct. Read More>>
Speedy Trial Rights Across the Nation
Forty states and Washington, D.C., have statutory rights to a speedy trial in addition to the right to speedy trial found in the Sixth and 13th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These statutes can provide more specific time frames that go beyond constitutional guidance. Read More>>
News: Police Reforms Sweep Across the U.S.
States have passed 140 oversight bills since the death of George Floyd, increasing accountability and overhauling use of force laws. NCSL’s legislation database informs a New York Times analysis of the changes. Read More>>
News: A Closer Look at Law Enforcement Reforms in the States
At least 36 states have enacted new laws in the last year, according to an Associated Press analysis of NCSL’s legislation database. Many of the new laws passed with bipartisan support, but not every state is advancing reform legislation. Read More>>
In the News
- Texas Speaker Dade Phelan introduced a package of criminal justice reform bills with Speaker Pro Tem Joe Moody. Pretrial release, law enforcement, capital punishment, juvenile justice, reentry and criminal records are all part of the broad package of laws.
- "I think [Michigan's jail reform] is a move in the right direction to bring equity to the system, to better leverage our limited resources." –Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton, who served on the Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration. Michigan offers a new model for jail reform with changes taking effect that highlight state-local cooperation.
- In a call to action, Walter Katz, an expert on policing reform and vice president of criminal justice at Arnold Ventures, reflects on recent events and talks about reimagining the way police do business, including taking a hard look at policies, training and collective bargaining agreements. More about Arnold Ventures’ work on law enforcement here.
- New Jersey has launched a new interactive portal with data on use of force across the state.
- At least eight states have legislation pending to change how law enforcement agencies respond to those in crisis. Learn more about new federal funding for mental health mobile crisis teams here.
- The U.S. Department of Justice has announced investigations into law enforcement in Minneapolis and Louisville.
The Cache