NAACP NAACP Smart & Safe Initiative Smart & Safe Initiative Effective Law Enforcement Effective Law Enforcement

CampaignCampaign

March 2010

NAACP History & New NAACP History & New ProgramProgramOldest civil rights organization in the U.S.

Informing criminal justice issues since inception: 1910 Pink Franklin

Racial integration in law enforcement & military

Rodney King: model use of force standards & diversity in law enforcement

New Criminal Justice Program: Smart & Safe Criminal Justice Initiative

Smart & Safe Smart & Safe InitiativeInitiative

Four Campaigns

◦Advance Effective Law Enforcement◦Elevate the voices of crime survivors

◦Eliminate Employment Incarceration of the Formerly Incarcerated

◦Reform Punitive Sentencing & Support Voting Rights for the Formerly Incarcerated

Framing the ProblemFraming the Problem

Goal of Campaign: Increasing Public Safety – Trust is imperative

Trust undermined by community fringes◦Anti-cooperative, “anti-snitching” community members

◦Officers seen to needlessly resort to violence

The TensionThe Tension

Incidents that Undermine Incidents that Undermine Community/Law Enforcement Community/Law Enforcement CollaborationCollaboration

Reports of excessive/deadly use of force by law enforcement

Incidences of anti cooperation by community members

Three examples:Rockford, IllinoisChicago, IllinoisPittsburg, Pennsylvania

Rockford, Ill. – Rockford, Ill. – August 2009August 2009

23 year-old Mark Anthony BarmoreDomestic complaintChased and shot dead in front of day care students at church

Unarmed; 3 shots in the back, one in neck

Witnesses report intimidationIncrease in racial tensions in community

Lack of trust between community and police department

Rockford, Ill. – Mark Rockford, Ill. – Mark Barmore’s ChildrenBarmore’s Children

Chicago, IL- September Chicago, IL- September 2009 2009

16 year-old Derrion Albert, honor student

Walking home from school because school bus services were cut

Killed by neighborhood groupWitnesses were presentWitnesses refused to collaborate with Law Enforcement to identify killer

Chicago, IL- Community Chicago, IL- Community ImpactImpact

Pittsburgh, PA – Pittsburgh, PA – January 2010January 2010

18 year-old, honors music student, Jordan Miles

Approached by undercover officers, asked about “money and drugs”

Chased, beaten, hair pulled out, choked

What officers believed was gun, was Mountain Dew bottle

Charged with resisting arrest, aggravated assault

Community outrage and outcry in support of Miles

Pittsburg, PA – Jordan Pittsburg, PA – Jordan MilesMiles

Our ApproachOur ApproachFight Anti Cooperation◦Stop the Funerals; New Haven Project

◦Community Policing◦Elevating Voices of Crime Survivors

Fight Excessive Use of Force by Law Enforcement◦Partnerships/Coalition Building◦Model Policies/Standards◦All Alert Online Citizen Reporting Tool

What We Hope What We Hope to Accomplishto Accomplish

Strengthen trust, increase public safety:◦ Work together: advocates, law enforcement, experts, lawmakers

◦ Effective Law Enforcement Coalition◦ Model policy/standards on use of force◦ Establish citizen review committees◦ Support for community oriented policing

Partnership:◦ Be allies; share information/input to build trust◦ Participate in developing model policies/standards

◦ Implement model policy in jurisdictions across U.S.

Better Understand the Problem – All Alert

Keep in Touch!Keep in Touch!Robert Rooks, MSWDirector, Criminal Justicerrooks@naacpnet.org(410) 336-3156

Dr. Niaz KasraviSr. Manager, Law Enforcement Accountability

nkasravi@naacpnet.org(410) 336-2642