Rep. Johnson introduces Police Accountability Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the closing days of the 113th Congress, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced the “Police Accountability Act” – H.R. 5831 – which would expand the Department of Justice’s authority to investigate wrongdoing by police by making it a federal crime for police officers to commit first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, and other violent crimes.

While the Department of Justice (DOJ) has the ability to conduct criminal civil rights investigations, the standard of proof in these types of cases is problematically high, making it very difficult to convict individuals for violating the civil rights of their victims.

Expanding authority under the “Police Accountability Act” would enable the DOJ to conduct murder investigations and bring charges in the event that states fail to do so. This way, civil rights investigations, while encouraged, would not be necessary to hold police accountable.

Reps. Barbara Lee (CA), Lacy Clay (MO) and Charles Rangel (NY) are cosponsors of the bill, which Johnson will reintroduce early in the 114th Congress in 2015.

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