Sen. Moran Cosponsors JUSTICE Act

Press Release

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) -- chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) -- today applauded the introduction of Sen. Tim Scott's (R-S.C.) Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act. Sen. Moran is an original cosponsor of the JUSTICE Act.

"Americans cannot look the other way after witnessing the actions that killed George Floyd," said Sen. Moran. "Today, I joined Sen. Tim Scott and my colleagues in the Senate in introducing the JUSTICE Act aimed at making significant progress towards improving police and community relations across the country while also providing the accountability we expect from our police departments."

"Kansas law enforcement officers work tirelessly to keep our communities safe, and the JUSTICE Act would reform police training and create more transparency and trust, which is critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities," continued Sen. Moran. "As CJS Chairman, I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fulfill the commitments made in the JUSTICE Act."

The JUSTICE Act is endorsed by the Major County Sheriffs, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, The National Sheriffs Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association and Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

The full text of the JUSTICE Act is here, and a section by section analysis is here. A summary provided by Sen. Scott's office is below.

Law Enforcement Reform

The JUSTICE Act strengthens the training methods and tactics throughout law enforcement jurisdictions, especially regarding de-escalation of force and the duty to intervene, providing law enforcement with new funding to do so, and will also end the practice of utilizing chokeholds
Additionally, the bill will reform hiring practices by providing more resources to ensure the makeup of police departments more closely matches the communities they serve
The JUSTICE Act also ensures when a candidate is interviewed, the department looking to hire will have access to their prior disciplinary records

Too often, after a tragic incident, we have learned the offending officer had a disciplinary past in another jurisdiction of which their current employer was unaware

Accountability

Studies show that when body cameras are properly used violent encounters decrease significantly
The JUSTICE Act will put more body cameras on the streets, and ensure that departments are both using the cameras and storing their data properly
JUSTICE also requires a report establishing best practices for the hiring, firing, suspension, and discipline of law enforcement officers

Transparency

Currently, only about 40 percent of police officers from jurisdictions nationwide report to the FBI after an incident where an officer has discharged his or her weapon or used force
The bill will require full reporting in these two areas
There is also very little data as to when, where and why no knock warrants are used, and the JUSTICE Act will require reporting in this area as well

Additional Steps

The JUSTICE Act will finally make lynching a federal crime
It also creates two commissions to study and offer solutions to a broader range of challenges facing black men and boys, and the criminal justice system as a whole

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