Blog: Criminal Justice

Policing Reform

1-14-2021

We are all thankful for the police officers in our communities who maintain order and keep us safe. As in all professions, standards need to be raised and training expanded when there are negative outcomes.

Last year, 112 people in Texas were killed during encounters with police. *

LWVTX seeks to maintain the Individual Rights of all people, including those being apprehended for allegedly committing crimes. We also believe in Citizens’ Right to Know. We promote improvements in the training and requirements of law enforcement personnel by supporting legislation that:

1. Supports Police Accountability by establishing local Citizen Review Boards.
2. Demilitarizes the Police

• Deny access to funds to buy military equipment.
• Prohibit the use of military grade weapons.
• Cease conducting no knock warrants.
• Cease the use of neck and chokeholds.

       3. Bans Racial Profiling and adjusts Use of Force Standards

• Establish robust data collection, disaggregated for demographics, to include police-community encounters and use of force.
• Support data sharing through a National Police Misconduct Registry.

*J. McCullough. (June 10,2020). Greg Abbott has condemned the death of George Floyd, but he’s been silent on Texas’ recent history of police killings. Texas Tribune.