Support of the Development of an Excessive Force Communication Protocol by the U.S. Department of Justice

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is empowered to prosecute complaints of excessive force by members of the police against citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Civil Rights Division does not have a policy or protocol for communicating information regarding their decision-making process or a policy for communicating their ultimate decision to NAACP Branches or local communities; and

WHEREAS, this lack of a policy or protocol leads to misunderstandings, racial tension and lack of faith in the Civil Rights Division.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP call upon the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights to establish an Excessive Force Communication Policy and Procedure requiring that this policy and procedure be disseminated to local communities and to NAACP Branches. This process should include citizen participation; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that after the conclusion of any investigation that pertinent information regarding the investigation and a rationale for the result be disseminated to the local community, NAACP Branches and the general public.