Police Accountability

What is Police Accountability?

SCAR believes that the police should be held accountable for their actions and that systemic racism and bias must be addressed in the policing of our communities. Our work is focused on ensuring that police officers are held accountable for their actions and that communities have a voice in the policing of their neighborhoods.

At its core, police accountability is about holding police officers and police departments responsible for their actions. This includes everything from ensuring that police officers are following the law and respecting civil rights to holding police departments accountable for systemic issues such as racial profiling, excessive use of force, and lack of transparency.

As an organization that focuses on racial equity, we believe that police accountability work must be approached with a racial justice lens. The policing of communities of color has been marked by systemic racism and bias, and this must be addressed in the work we do. Our goal is to ensure that police officers are held accountable for their actions, that communities have a voice in the policing of their neighborhoods, and that systemic issues of racism and bias are addressed in the policing of communities.

Some of the key elements of our police accountability work include:

Accountability and Oversight: One of the most important aspects of police accountability is ensuring that police officers are held accountable for their actions. This includes the establishment of independent oversight mechanisms, such as citizen review boards, that can investigate complaints of police misconduct and hold officers accountable for their actions.

Use of Force Policies: Another important element of police accountability is the establishment of use-of-force policies that prioritize de-escalation and the use of non-lethal force. We believe that police officers should only use force as a last resort and that non-violent approaches should be prioritized in all situations.

Community Policing: We also believe that community policing is an essential element of police accountability. This means that police officers should be embedded in the communities they serve and that they should work collaboratively with community members to address issues of crime and safety.

Racial Bias Training: We believe that police officers must receive regular training on racial bias and systemic racism. This includes training on implicit bias, cultural competence, and the history and legacy of racism in the United States. We believe that this training is essential to ensure that police officers are equipped to serve communities in a fair and equitable way.

Data Collection and Transparency: We believe that police accountability requires increased data collection and transparency. This includes the collection and analysis of data on police stops, arrests, and use of force, as well as increased transparency in police department policies and practices.

At SCAR, we are committed to doing police accountability work that is centered on racial equity. We believe that addressing systemic racism is essential to creating a more just and equitable policing system.

If you are interested in joining us in this work, we encourage you to explore our website and learn more about our programs and initiatives. We offer a range of resources, including workshops, events, and educational materials, to help people get involved in the fight for police accountability. We also welcome feedback and suggestions from the community and are always looking for new ways to improve and expand our work.

Together, we can make a real difference in the fight for police accountability and build a more just and equitable society for all.