Howard Henderson
Professor of Justice Administration, Texas Southern University
Cassia Spohn
Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University
Christy Visher
Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware
Key Findings
- Short-term criminal justice policy recommendations include reforming qualified immunity, which protects police officers from being sued for violating someone’s rights, and creating national standards for training and de-escalation.
- Medium-term criminal justice reforms should involve restructuring civilian payouts for police misconduct, shifting the financial burden from taxpayers to police departments or officers themselves, and addressing officer wellness through mandatory mental health counseling and incentives for community policing.
- Long-term criminal justice reforms should focus on restructuring regulations for police union contracts to ensure accountability and changing police culture to prioritize the protection of civilians.
Description
In the report, “A Better Path Forward for Criminal Justice: A Report by the Brookings-AEI Working Group on Criminal Justice Reform,” Christy Visher, Cassia Spohn, Howard Henderson and their co-authors examined efforts by past U.S. Presidents to address issues in the criminal justice system. The authors note the recent calls for police reform sparked by the death of George Floyd and the need for a balanced approach that avoids extreme positions to policies. The short-term policy recommendations include reforming qualified immunity, which protects police officers from being sued for violating someone’s rights, and creating national standards for training and de-escalation. The medium-term reforms involve restructuring civilian payouts for police misconduct, shifting the financial burden from taxpayers to police departments or officers themselves, and addressing officer wellness through mandatory mental health counseling and incentives for community policing. The long-term reforms focus on restructuring regulations for police union contracts to ensure accountability and changing police culture to prioritize the protection of civilians. Overall, the report calls for comprehensive and transformative reforms in the U.S. criminal justice system to promote accountability, training, and a cultural shift within law enforcement.