Community Policing and Engagement - Consent Decree Compliance

The How We Got Here

The historical facts that led to the implementation of the Chicago Police Department Consent Decree include the long-standing issues of police misconduct and brutality, as well as the lack of accountability and transparency in the Chicago Police Department. nity’s trust in the CPD.

Federal Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. was assigned to oversee the consent decree Jan 31, 2019. He then appointed the Independent Monitor, who will oversee the work of the Independent Monitoring Team. The Independent Monitoring Team will assess the CPD’s and the City’s compliance with the consent decree. The consent decree will be in effect for at least five years so that the CPD can develop, implement, and sustain the training, policies, and practices that the consent decree requires.

Consent Decree Areas:

• Community Policing

• Impartial Policing

• Crisis Intervention

• Use of Force

• Recruitment, Hiring, and Promotion

• Training

• Supervision

• Officer Wellness and Support

• Accountability and Transparency

• Data Collection, Analysis, and Management

• Implementation, Enforcement, and Monitoring

Community Policing

The CCPSA has the power to advance systemic reforms.

The CCPSA and the District Councils will bring police officers and Chicago residents together to plan, prioritize, and build mutual trust; strengthen the police accountability system; give Chicagoans a meaningful new role in oversight; and explore and advance alternative effective approaches to public safety.

District Council’s Responsibilities

Community interaction and support

The police district councils are required to hold monthly meetings to discuss policing issues. They inform the community about the work the district councils and the Commission are doing, and gather input from the public about public safety and policing in their communities. They’re required to assist the public with such issues and help community members request information about investigations from the police department and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), resulting in stronger connections between the police and the community.

Police interaction and oversight

Police district councils work with district commanders and community members to develop and implement community policing initiatives, and the councils are specifically tasked with developing and expanding restorative justice and similar programs. They’re required to encourage police officers to help the community access resources, and they provide information to police about their work and the Commission’s work. last but not least, the council is tasked with working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices.

CCPSA input

The ultimate goal, is that the Commission’s work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the city are concerned about.

CCPSA responsibilities

Hiring and Firing Public Safety Administrators

When there is a vacancy of the police superintendent, Police Board members, or the COPA chief

Police Department Policy Oversight

General orders for CPD can be drafted by the department or the Commission, but they require a majority vote by the Commission to become policy. .

Community Engagement and Transparency

The CCPSA must hold monthly meetings. It conducts outreach on relations between community and police; department policies and practices; and the department’s accountability system. .

Links:

Independent Monitor

City of Chicago

NPR.org