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Criminal Injustice

Denver Police secretly launched a "Drone as First Responder" program without city approval, broadened taser use to allow deployment against non-aggressive individuals, allowed misconduct to be handled informally by a supervisor, and reduced discipline for misconduct to simple classroom training. All within the space of 1 year.

We are on a collision course between law enforcement and our everyday human rights. Just like our laws, law enforcement should be by the people and for the people. Not against the people.

A drawing of a head in a cage

Accountability

The police investigating the police is like you auditing your own taxes. It doesn't work. Denver Police needs to be held accountable by outside third-parties.

Problem

Police misconduct is handled informally by a supervisor. Classroom training is utilized instead of suspensions or reprimands.

Solution

  • Trigger a citizen-ran investigative body when a police officer is accused of misconduct.
  • The citizen-ran body then determines the discipline for the officer, if found guilty, from classroom training all the way up to termination.

Non-Violent Jailing

Policing has roots and connections in the slave catchers of antebellum South. Non-violent jailing exists, today, as a pipeline for feeding undesirables to for-profit prisons for cheap labor and extortion.

Problem

Most people in jail are there for non-violent offenses, including traffic violations, public disorderliness, drug charges, property damage, and mental health episodes.

Solution

  • Expand the STAR (Support Team Assisted Response) program in Denver to a 24-hour program.
  • Change the default 911 Operator response to sending STAR, only escalating to a traditional police response if there is an expectation of violence.
  • Reduce the default punishments for many non-violent offenses to citations instead of jail time.
  • Expand usage of house arrest, work release, rehabilitation & treatment, and probation as alternatives to jail for repeat offenders.

Fines, Fees, & Tribulations

Monetary fines and fees are often issued to the very populations who can least afford them. They also influence the motivations of a police force and can skew them away from their intended focus: public safety.

Problem

The penalties for many low-level offenses are monetary, perverting the point of restorative justice by pushing the perpetrator even further into desperation.

Solution

  • Change the default penalties for many low-level offenses to community service and mandatory trainings.