Where individuals in communities, particularly young black males, have been killed by Police Officers. Sometimes, investigation shows use of force was justified. Sometimes, it does not. But obviously, there is a tremendous amount of mistrust has built up. I do not believe our mission has changed. Our mission is to try to get dialogue going in communities across the country. The cities we have visited, where they have been proactive in this regard, are more effective at preventing these things from occurring and when they do occur. And unfortunately, they will occur. When they do occur, they will be better prepared to deal with it because they have developed a better, more trustful relationship between Law Enforcement and the communities they are trying to protect. Susan what was your goal in forming this committee . Rep. Conyers there were big differences in attitude towards police. And the police have a different attitude toward certain members of the community. To add to what chairman goodlatte mentioned, we have noticed that there has been a surge of police incidents, because now word travels across the country with lightning speed. They are no longer isolated. Something happens in baltimore, it spreads quickly throughout the country. And what the Police Strategies group does and i am so glad we have been working on this together in a bipartisan sort of way, because underneath all of these differences in views and emotions that are unfortunately sure to erupt is the whole notion of trust. What we do, by having not only elected officials of their but Law Enforcement officials, we have been in detroit, atlanta, washington we have had a couple. And we will continue them. In the spirit of trying to increase the level of trust between the groups. That we know there are some people that probably should not be in Law Enforcement. And we want to identify them and get them out or into some kind of other line of activity as quickly as possible. But we also know there are emotional people who go off on the police. Who are sworn enemies of Law Enforcement. And they have to be handled also. The whole idea is to do this through discussions, through candid meetings. And i can say that weve had good meetings. Jesse policing is such a local issue. It is local and state. What role does the federal government, what role should the federal government have in this process in bridging the gap between communities and the policeman who live and work there. This study group has existed since summer. Have you found any concrete answers to any of these questions . Are there concrete proposals you can give out that you have learned since you have started this study group . I know there are discussions, but is there anything you can say to people in Police Watching that this is something you should start doing now to help solve these problems . Rep. Goodlatte absolutely. With regard to the issue of the federal role in this, the fact of the matter is we have Law Enforcement at every level of government. We have a number of federal Law Enforcement agencies. And the same concerns for their protection and safety, the same concern they be well trained, well equipped, not hire people who should not be in Law Enforcement is applicable to them as well. I agree with mr. Conyers. When people who believe the solution to this problem is to take violent acts against Police Officers, deliberately targeting them, they need to be dealt with swiftly and surely and severely. We have to make sure our Law Enforcement officers know that our nation is behind their work, when they are putting their lives on the line every time they go into a community, knock on our door, every time they leave their home and their family worries about them. This is a problem that communities like detroit and atlanta have shared with us. As mr. Conyers said, we brought people from other communities here to washington. They share their ideas as well. They involve greater communication between Law Enforcement and the communities they are policing. They involve having open sessions like we have conducted, where people can share their concerns and complaints. I think if communities across the country, no matter how large or small they are, do this, they will create a better dialogue, and we will get to the situation that, i think, most people want to see with regard to the relationship between Law Enforcement and the communities. Which is Law Enforcement officers are sworn to uphold the law and committed to keeping people safe. Sometimes, people in the same communities where we see the most violence are those who are the greatest victims of criminal acts. The do not want police to not go in those areas, to not keep people safe in these areas where there are the highest crime rates. So this kind of cooperation is important. Funding is always an issue brought up with us. The federal government obviously has funding for federal Law Enforcement. We also provide Grant Programs to help make sure Police Officers have bulletproof vest, that Police Received good training. We had the opportunity in atlanta to participate in some of that training ourselves. I think it opened our eyes to the very difficult decisions that Law Enforcement officers have to make, and the good judgment they have to have. The more that training, the more we encourage Law Enforcement departments to get accreditation, all of these things are important. Mr. Conyers is also correct when he says we learn more about this as media has become more instantaneous, and information from the furthest corners of our nation becomes known to us, sometimes while the crimes are still going on. That should concern us but should also open our eyes to the fact that this is a growing problem. And one that communities need to bring Police Chiefs online. Police officers, sheriffs, community leaders, and average citizens together so they can discuss this and understand how everything works so that, a, these are less likely to occur, and b, when they do occur, they handled this swiftly, so people do not engage in violence as a way to solve a problem that should never be solved that way. Susan ms. Kelly has a followup for you. Kimbriell over the last couple of years, the Washington Post has documented the number of officerinvolved shootings across the country. The number of officers who have killed has increased this year. The department of justice and the fbi promised to create databases that will track the number of use of force by officers across the country, beginning in 2017. My question to you is what will happen to those efforts now, after the election . Rep. Conyers that is the 64 question i wish i could predict with some confidence. We are hopeful we can continue the efforts we have begun and, with a new administration, new department of justice, we can continue moving forward in this area. Its an area where it is more than bipartisanship, its to the Common Benefit for every citizen in every city, county, state. Theres a federal importance to this whole question of policing strategies and what should be done about it. Im impressed with the fact that we still have a number of things that must be done. Years ago, i had a bill, the patterns and practices act. It became to be a useful way for the federal government to intervene in what would normally be considered a local matter. Where there are certain activities or even, sometimes, particular Law Enforcement individuals or activists who are antiLaw Enforcement, who would be warranted to be visited by federal intervention. It has been used selectively. I have not found it to be criticized overly. It makes for the discussions and the context and the interchanges necessary to build up this level of trust that is so important in terms of how we proceed in building up good Law Enforcement and community relationships. This is not a simple problem that passing a bill and signing a law will take care of. I am hopeful that, with the new administration, we can find ways to continue to work on this policing strategies conference. I start off with an open mind, with an attitude that is cooperative, that we continue and set a good example for our colleagues on both sides of the aisle on an issue that is emotional and touchy as this one of police relations. And it has to be said with that, in many places where things occur, it is an povertystricken communities. Places that are more desolate. Places in which there is already a problem of high crime rate. We are looking for ways to continue these strategy meetings going on. There is a lot of work to be done. We are working with Police Associations and Law Enforcement groups so that the cops can feel they have representation and they feel that we are looking at the concern that goes with every police family, where the officer goes to work every day, not knowing what may happen and what can be a problem. It is in that respect that i am placing a lot of hope on working with leadership in the department of justice and seeing if we can continue this building of trust that i think is fundamentally at the root of the problem. This lack of trust has to be increased to more and more understanding of the other parties problem. So in that way, well be able to get somewhere now. I wish i could tick off a list of things we have accomplished and what we have learned, but it is coming out in such a way that im not sure i could pen mr. Goodlatte a list of things i think we have solved already. It is not that simple. Each area has its own political climate. Each area has its own particular Law Enforcement problems. It is in putting this together and letting people know that we are interested that we will be able to continue to make progress. Susan we have 12 minutes left in our conversation. Jesse holland is next. Jesse since you were just talking about the justice department, what advice would you give the presumptive attorney general nominee, senator Jeff Sessions of alabama, given that you have these conversations all around the country. The last two attorneys general were outspoken about protecting police and protecting communities. What advice would you give senator sessions, if he is confirmed, on how to use his pulpit as attorney general to address these concerns you have heard from around the nation . Rep. Goodlatte mr. Conyers indicated some projections, but also his openness in working with them. I agree. I would say that we have not talked yet, this program, but mr. Conyers and i and many others here in congress, have worked diligently in criminal Justice Reform. That includes making sure police have the tools they need to do their jobs properly. It includes making sure that we have the information shared about what works and what does not. And i know mr. Conyers is working with me on a bill that we hope to produce soon that would make more information available. It also includes making sure people in communities, any community, feel that our criminal Justice System works to protect them and to ensure people will be treated fairly in the process. We are looking at everything from sentencing reform to prison reform, reentry into society after you have served time in prison. This all is related to federal prisons and federal crimes, of which there are a great many. But we have also learned from a number of states that have already done criminal Justice Reform and have seen a reduction in the crime rate and a reduction in their prison population at the same time. So there is a lot to be benefited from doing criminal Justice Reform. We think it should be done at the federal level as well. We also need to make sure we are looking at things like criminal intent, to make sure someone who is charged with a crime actually knew that of the thousands of laws and hundreds of thousands of regulations actually was a crime. Did they have criminal intent before you take liberties from them . We need to make sure innocent people do not have their property removed with no effective way to get it that. We also need to make sure innocent people are not charged with crimes in the first place. Therefore, using both technology and good Law Enforcement strategies are employed to protect the innocent, which, after all, is the chief goal of justice and Law Enforcement in our country. Susan are you far enough along in crafting this legislation that you could anticipate it being introduced early in the new congress, and would you find a receptive senate . Rep. Goodlatte yes. The senate has been working on it as well. There are differences between the house and senate, but we think the most important thing is for the house to take up the bills. Now that we are approaching the end of this congress, we will work on the bills again. We will learn on what we happen working on here in the Police Strategies working group. By the way, it is not just mr. Conyers and i. It is 10 other members with very diverse backgrounds. A majority of the working group are actually minorities. And i think it has proven to be something that has been an education to all of us. We will take that, and that will help to enhance our legislation, that we will reintroduce into the new congress. I hope we can. And i heard mr. Conyers indicate that he hopes to as well. Worked together on this goal. This is a longterm problem. There are Important Solutions we can do now, and other things we will learn as we move forward. But we should not back away from this issue. I think creating a sense on the part of the American People that their Justice System works for them is something that i think will help solve this underlying problem of tensions between Law Enforcement and some communities. Susan seven minutes left. Kimbriell kelly now. Kimbriell six months from now, when we are looking at this working group, what do you hope will be the number one priority that, on paper, you will say you have accomplished . Rep. Goodlatte for me, it would be to say that there are communities all across america, particularly ones where they have had problems with this, but any community that wants to make sure they do not have a problem with relations between police and communities, will have brought people together to have the kind of dialogue we have been promoting. Secondly, the criminal Justice Reform measures i was talking about as well. John . Rep. Conyers it seems to me we are both on the right track. The understanding is essential to build up trust. And trust is essential to be able to belive that dialogue and examination of particular cases and challenges Law Enforcement has in this particular society is solved. Something i have a lot of emphasis on is reentry. Helping a person convicted, imprisoned, released, and then unable to find employment makes him or her more vulnerable of something wrong to happen again. That is what we are trying to do. With these candid discussions and we include Police Chiefs and mayors and scholars and Law Enforcement experts with that, we have begun to see the other side of the picture. And that gives us the ground we need to build up the confidence and trust that will lead to, i hope, lower criminal activity and crime rates. It is true that a lot of these things are cultural. A lot of these things are tied to geopolitical considerations in the city or town or state that there may be problems. It is in that respect it makes this an important and exciting part of our work on the house Judiciary Committee. I am much involved with this. Have been for a long time. But it is really good to have a chairman who wants to explore this, too. He comes with his own experiences and viewpoint, but we bring this together. That is with the legislative process is all about. How do we make things more understandable so that we can reduce the crime rate, increase the safety of people . Not just in the rural or urban areas, the rust belt or one coast or the other. But across the country. That is the National Responsibility that i feel going in. And the big question is what will be the reaction of the new administration with regard to this subject matter . We will be counting on you to help work this out. And i will be doing everything i can as well to make sure that the success that the Police Strategies group, which has already had four meetings, will continue on with the support of a new administration. Susan lets see if we can get two more questions. Jesse congressman conyers told my question, because it was going to be what will be they reaction of the new administration to the work you are doing . What do you think the new administration, it will have its own ideas. Have you heard from anyone in the new administration on what they think needs to be done . Rep. Conyers i have not talked to anybody in the new administration all the way up to the president elect about what we will be doing about this. But i do not want to jump the gun. I want this to move in an orderly way. Rep. Goodlatte it is so new that we do not have but a few names of people who will be in positions important in this regard. I look forward to having discussions with them. I think this is something the American People long for and that the administration could provide real leadership in helping to rebuild the kind of trust we need in communities between Law Enforcement and the people they are sworn to serve and protect, some of whom do not understand that, and we need to promote that. I also want to say this is something that really, i think, is something that congress, both the house and senate, should get behind. We can lead the way in terms of showing what kind of things can be done based upon what we have learned. In our working group, we have proven that. We have people who have been community leaders, sheriffs, people who have lived in all types of different communities across america. As we go out and meet with groups, we are having, i think, considerable success sharing ideas but also learning from the people we are meeting with. Susan we are pretty much out of time. I say thank you to Judiciary Committee chair Bob Goodlatte and the ranking democratic member on the committee, john conyers. We appreciate you coming together. So often, we report on how partisan groups are at odds. So we appreciate you. Thank you to Kimbriell Kelly of the Washington Post and Jesse Holland from the associated press. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] i spent a week at west point trying to understand how this man could finish 21st out of 39 at west point and therefore, thesemes you view biographers as a historical he said it and apologize, i spent all my time reading novels. Life and career of the 18th ,resident, from his latest book american ulysses. African be meeting american leaders in the white house and said i look forward to the day when you could ride on the railroad car, when you could eat in the restaurant, when you any othero with person regardless of their race. It took 90 years for that day to come. Grant was the last american president to hold those kind of use. At 8 00 eastern on cspans q and a. Journals washington with news and policy issues that impact you. On monday morning, the a Senior Reporter discusses the future of caucus andemocratic the expectations of House Republicans and Trump Administration. In the former mideast adviser to president carter will discuss the challenges facing the Trump Administration in counteracting isis inspired attacks at home, to like the Ohio State University attacks. And governing magazine Staff Reporter examines the amount of federal grant money given to urban areas. Cspanso watch washington journal monday morning. Join the discussion. On thursday, cnn and the Kennedy School of government host the