Last week Congress passed the “Death In Custody Bill.” The new bill, sponsored by Congressman Bobby Scott, requires police departments to report when someone dies in custody in a jail or in are involved in a shooting.
On Friday, Roland Martin and the “NewsOne Now” Straight Talk panel discussed the potential impact this bill will have on police departments around the nation.
“NewsOne Now” panelist, Lauren Victoria Burke told Martin the bill is “substantial.” She also stated this bill “requires the department of justice to not only just look at the statistics with regards death in custody, but to do something about it when the get the numbers.”
The bill “is the law of the land given that the President signed it yesterday,” Burke said.
Also on Thursday, President Barack Obama signed and executive order creating the Police Accountability Task Force. They have been tasked with going around the country and coming up with recommendations to bring back to the President to create the accountability between police forces and the community.
Sr. Advisor, Valerie Jarrett told Martin via phone during the radio portion of the show, “The recommendations back to the President will be these are the best practices that we see. The report will obviously public and it’s designed to help local law enforcement and communities take specific steps to enhance that process.”
Jarrett added, “We don’t want to predetermine what those recommendations will be so we certainly know that there are very best practices around the country already and we want to highlight what those best practices are”
Listen to Martin, Angela Rye, Ray Baker and Lauren Victoria Burke discuss the Death in Custody Bill and the President’s Police Accountability Task Force. Do you think either of these initiatives will make difference on the streets where some police act with impunity?
Be sure to listen to “NewsOne Now” with Roland Martin, weekdays at 7 a.m. EST and watch at 9 a.m. EST on TV One.
Subscribe to the “NewsOne Now” Audio Podcast on iTunes.
Policing The Police: White House Launches Task Force On 21st Century Policing, Congress Passes “Death In Custody Bill” was originally published on newsone.com
