For Immediate Release
07/01/2020
Contact: David Card
202.408.9514 x122
[email protected]
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) commends the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020.
This bill signals movement toward a serious discussion on police brutality in the United States. The legislation includes several important policies such as the creation of a national use of force standard, banning chokeholds, establishment of a police misconduct registry, and prohibiting no-knock warrants for drug offenses.
“We applaud the House for taking this much-needed first step towards addressing the everyday reality many communities face at the hands of the police,” said NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker. “The murder of George Floyd once again illuminated the vast disparities that exist in our justice system which often begin with police interaction. The time for action is long over-due and this bill moves us closer to grappling with our nation’s legacy of police violence.”
The bill also includes provisions on use of force reporting requiring the collection of disability status when forceful action is used by a police officer against a civilian. This is particularly crucial given that there does not exist a robust data set which tracks police violence against people with disabilities.
“People with disabilities too often face brutal treatment by police who either do not recognize their needs or refuse to meet them in the moment,” continued Decker. “The House has set the stage for a meaningful discussion on this issue and we urge the Senate to take up this piece of legislation as a starting point.”
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The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
