(Washington, D.C., March 14, 2000)-- Human Rights Watch, the largest U.S.-based international human rights organization, strongly supports the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity
Act of 2000. The legislation would address the problem of police
brutality -- one of the most serious, enduring, and divisive human
rights violations in the United States. The legislation would improve
accountability systems within law enforcement agencies, enhance the
Justice Department's ability to monitor police misconduct more
consistently and conduct more "pattern or practice" investigations
nationally, require data collection regarding deaths in police custody,
and create a system to respond to allegations of misconduct by
immigration law enforcement officials.
"We commend Rep. Conyers, Jr. and the bill's co-sponsors for
introducing this proactive, comprehensive legislation to address police
abuse. Solving the problem of police misconduct must become a priority and the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2000 is a major step in the right direction. All responsible Members of Congress should support
this bill, which would help to hold abusive officers accountable and to
improve police-community relations."
Kenneth Roth
Executive director of Human Rights Watch
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"We commend Rep. Conyers, Jr. and the bill's co-sponsors for
introducing this proactive, comprehensive legislation to address police
abuse," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.
"Solving the problem of police misconduct must become a priority and the
Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2000 is a major step in the
right direction. All responsible Members of Congress should support
this bill, which would help to hold abusive officers accountable and to
improve police-community relations."
In July 1998, Human Rights Watch published a report, Shielded from
Justice: Police Brutality and Accountability in the United States, which
examined the role and effectiveness of civilian review agencies,
internal affairs units, civil lawsuits filed against the police, and
criminal prosecutions (both federal and local) in fourteen U.S. cities.
(Available on our website at
http://www.hrw.org/reports98/police/index.htm.) We are pleased that the
Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2000 addresses many of the
recommendations we made in that report. Human Rights Watch has also
published reports on human rights violations by immigration law
enforcement agents and the need for improved investigative and
disciplinary systems in several reports, also available on our website
(www.hrw.org).
Allyson Collins(w) +1 202 612 4354
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