States debate police records and transparency
Colleen Slevin
The Associated Press
DENVER Lawmakers in more than 20 states have considered bills this year to make the disciplinary records of police officers public or to share them with other agencies, a push that comes amid high-profile deaths at the hands of law enforcement. About 20 states still largely prohibit their release, however.
Supporters of greater transparency say it could help improve police accountability, build trust with the community and prevent officers with disciplinary problems who leave one department from being hired by another.
Opponents say the release of such records could harm the reputations of officers with only minor infractions or even put them in danger. They also argue that disciplinary actions are part of personnel records, which are exempt from state open records laws.
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Use-of-force cases prompt state debates over police officer records
In this June 19, 2018, file photo, Rosa Cabrera, foreground, joined others in support of a measure to limit police use of deadly force, during a hearing of the Senate Public Safety Committee in Sacramento, Calif. Cases involving police use of force often include questions about the internal records of the officers involved, records that in most cases are off-limits to the press and public. Lawmakers in more than 20 states have considered bills to make those records more publicly available. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
DENVER (AP) Lawmakers in more than 20 states have considered bills this year to make the disciplinary records of police officers public or to share them with other agencies, a push that comes amid high-profile deaths at the hands of law enforcement. About 20 states still largely prohibit their release, however.
Supporters of greater transparency say it could help improve police accountability, build trust with the community and prevent officers with disciplinary problems who leave one department from being hired by another.
Opponents say the release of such records could harm the reputations of officers with only minor infractions or even put them in danger. They also argue that disciplinary actions are part of personnel records, which are exempt from state open records laws.
2021/05/02 20:51 FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2019 file photo, Jennell Black, mother of Anton Black, looks at a collection of her son s belongings at her home in Greensboro. FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2019 file photo, Jennell Black, mother of Anton Black, looks at a collection of her son s belongings at her home in Greensboro, Md. Anton Black, 19, died after a struggle with three officers and a civilian outside the home in September 2018. Cases involving police use of force often include questions about the internal records of the officers involved, records that in most cases are off-limits to the press and public. Lawmakers in at least 13 states have considered bills this year to make those records more publicly available. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
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