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Policing

Law enforcement must protect both public safety and the rights of individuals. This is why arrests and use of force should be last resorts, not first options, for police. The ACLU-WA advocates for stronger laws regulating police use of force, alternatives to arrest and incarceration, and de-escalation practices and training. And to ensure law enforcement is accountable to the people they serve, the ACLU-WA works for greater community oversight, such as independent civilian review boards with disciplinary authority.

Resources

ACLU of Washington statement regarding ruling requiring additional federal oversight of SPD

News Release, Published: 
Thursday, September 7, 2023
A federal court has ended some federal oversight of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) by determining that SPD has complied with certain requirements in the Consent Decree resulting from the 2012 lawsuit United States v. City of Seattle.
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Working Through the Courts to Break Down Racial Bias in the Criminal Legal System

Published: 
Thursday, March 30, 2023
This series examines how the ACLU-WA crafts and deploys amicus briefs to promote racial justice and systemic equality in the criminal legal system.
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ACLU of Washington comment on Department of Justice and City of Seattle Filing to End Consent Decree

News Release, Published: 
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
The U.S. Department of Justice and the City of Seattle asked the Court to terminate the consent decree, which would end federal court oversight of discriminatory policing, model use-of-force policies, data-collection and officer early warning system, community participation and civilian oversight., which would end federal court oversight of discriminatory policing, model use-of-force policies, data-collection and officer early warning system, community participation and civilian oversight.
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Victims of police violence deserve a fair chance at justice. This bill will provide that.

Published: 
Friday, March 3, 2023
Lawmakers should pass the Access to Fairness Act and show that no person is above the law — especially not those who are empowered to enforce it.
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ACLU of Washington comment on passage of abortion and gender affirming care bills out of policy committees

News Release, Published: 
Friday, February 3, 2023
Policy committees in the Washington state House of Representatives and Senate advanced the progress of number of important pieces of legislation to protect abortion and gender affirming care.
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