LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The State of California has passed a new package of criminal justice reform. Randy Shrewsberry, Executive Director for the ICJTR, www.trainingreform.org, is available to comment on the new pieces of legislation.
The first piece of legislation, the Peace Officers Education and Age Conditions for Employment Act (AB89), is designed to increase the training standards of California Police Officers.
This requires law enforcement stakeholders, the California State University, California Community Colleges, and others to develop recommendations for a modern policing degree program by June 1, 2023.
Studies have shown that better educated officers perform better in the academy, receive higher supervisor evaluations, have fewer disciplinary problems and accidents, and are assaulted less often.
“For too long we have treated the profession of policing with the training of a vocation,” said Randy Shrewsberry, Executive Director of the Institute. “This first step will ensure that law enforcement receives adequate training needed to keep both the police and the public safe.”
Additionally, a second piece of legislation, The Kenneth Ross Jr. Police Decertification Act (SB2), is designed to establish a more robust system for police accountability. The measure would ultimately give the State the authority to decertify officers for instances of gross misconduct whereby officers could permanently lose their badges. California was one of four states without a way of decertifying officers.
Randy Shrewsberry can provide insight into the implications of the Acts and how they address the ongoing challenge of comprehensive police reform, both in the state of California and the nation at large.
About the Institute
The Institute for Criminal Justice Training Reform exists to save lives and reduce injury among the public and the police. This is achieved by reforming the deeply-flawed, inadequate, and antiquated training models, policies, procedures, and legislative standards for employees in the United States' Criminal Justice System, particularly for those with the power to arrest, detain, commit, and kill. At state and national levels, we build a consensus for meaningful reform by involving all impacted communities in our efforts to improve training standard through the use of our groundbreaking research—implemented through legislation and national campaigns for public awareness.