Signed by Governor Ralph Northam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes localities to establish law-enforcement civilian oversight bodies.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the law enforcement civilian oversight body to (Sec. B):

• Receive, investigate, and utilize civilian complaints regarding the conduct of law enforcement officers serving under the locality’s authority;

• Investigate and issue findings on incidents involving the use of force by a law enforcement officer, death or injury of any person involved in the incident, misconduct or abuse of authority, alleged discriminatory stops, or any other incident regarding the conduct of law enforcement officer;

• Make binding disciplinary decisions after consulting with the commanding officer or supervisor of the office in question, such as suspension with or without pay, letters of reprimand, demotion or reassignment within the department, termination, involuntary restitution, or a mediation;

• Investigate the policies and policy changes of law enforcement agencies, and to request a written, published record of said changes if the agency refuses to implement any changes recommended by the civilian oversight body;

• Review all conduct of internal investigations; and

• Produce public reports on all their actions, findings, and recommendations.

• Authorizes the law enforcement civilian oversight body to hold hearings in which they may, after making a good faith effort to obtain witnesses voluntarily, subpoena witnesses or production evidence pursuant of the terms stipulated in section B (Sec. C).

• Prohibits any current employee of a law enforcement agency from serving on a law enforcement civilian oversight body (Sec. D).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes localities to establish law-enforcement civilian oversight bodies.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the law enforcement civilian oversight body to (Sec. B):

• Receive, investigate, and utilize civilian complaints regarding the conduct of law enforcement officers serving under the locality’s authority;

• Investigate and issue findings on incidents involving the use of force by a law enforcement officer, death or injury of any person involved in the incident, misconduct or abuse of authority, alleged discriminatory stops, or any other incident regarding the conduct of law enforcement officer;

• Make binding disciplinary decisions after consulting with the commanding officer or supervisor of the office in question, such as suspension with or without pay, letters of reprimand, demotion or reassignment within the department, termination, involuntary restitution, or a mediation;

• Investigate the policies and policy changes of law enforcement agencies, and to request a written, published record of said changes if the agency refuses to implement any changes recommended by the civilian oversight body;

• Review all conduct of internal investigations; and

• Produce public reports on all their actions, findings, and recommendations.

• Authorizes the law enforcement civilian oversight body to hold hearings in which they may, after making a good faith effort to obtain witnesses voluntarily, subpoena witnesses or production evidence pursuant of the terms stipulated in section B (Sec. C).

• Prohibits any current employee of a law enforcement agency from serving on a law enforcement civilian oversight body (Sec. D).

Full Bill Text