Police Reforms the New Laws Essay Example

There have been some new laws passed recently due to the recent protests that have become fatal. Some of the changes will affect the no-knock warrants, and the downgrading of minor traffic violations to secondary offenses. Also stopping police from initiating searches of vehicles due to smelling marijuana. There is the mandating of racial bias, de-escalation, and crisis intervention training for police. We are limiting when police can use chokeholds and requiring officers to intervene in excessive force. Imposing modest limits on military equipment available to law enforcement. Stopping local prosecutors from having the authority to dismiss whatever cases they want. Committing hate crimes to make false 911 calls that are motivated by race or other prejudice. Allowing the attorney general to investigate police departments. Letting the state inspect ICE detention facilities in Virginia. I do not like the fact that I have to say this one but banning police officers from having sex with detainees.

The banning of police from executing the no-knock search warrants is called the Breonna’s Law, Ms. Taylor had been shot by police in Louisville, during a night raid the police did not announce themselves. The new law will stop this from happening, the police now have to announce themselves when entering a house. Officers are saying that it is less dangerous to announce themselves than going in unannounced. I believe this will help stop the number of deaths that happen when searching a house and all the accidental shooting. 

The downgrading of minor traffic violations will hopefully stop racial profiling from happing. This law makes it so police can only stop someone if their vehicle has more than one head or brake light out. The law prohibiting police from doing searches based on the smell of marijuana. Cops use the smell of marijuana as a reason to search vehicles without probable cause and this new law will minimize this from happing. The new law that makes police academies are requires them to go through a psychological evaluation before being hired. Police have training opportunities that will get them ready for mandating racial bias, and crisis intervention which is a great way to start new police officers off. 

Limiting the use of chokeholds is great for stopping the overuse of excessive force. Police officers can still use chokeholds when necessary to protect themselves. Officers can stop other police officers from using force and officers have the right to intervene when necessary if they do not, they can face disciplinary action. The law limits the use of military equipment and blocks departments from getting some equipment like drones and combat aircraft, grenade and grenade launchers, armed vehicles, and tanks. Some law enforcement has armed vehicles for a standoff emergency. If the police do want the use of this equipment, they need to get a waiver. 

Eliminating prosecutors from having authority to dismiss any case. This law will stop prosecutors from being able to dismiss low-level cases. 

The CAREN Act is a law that prevents you from making false 911 calls. Making it a hate crime by race or bias is a felony for people who commit this. Allowing the attorney general to investigate local police departments. The first black female police chief was forced to resign since other police officers did not want to take orders from her. They pushed her out just for being a woman. There was a covid outbreak at an ICE facility and the law will allow the state to investigate the facilities to make sure they are running safely for everyone. Last but not least is the law the stops police from having sex with detainees. It’s scary as a woman to think that there needs to be a law to protect detainees from police. With the way that the time is I’m not surprised that this has happened to someone and now it’s a law. I can not choose one better law than others all the new laws have an important reason for existing. I’m sure over the next few years there will be more laws to come. 

References

Oliver, N. (2021, March 2). Police reforms go into effect in Virginia. Virginia Mercury. https://www.virginiamercury.com/blog-va/police-reforms-go-into-effect-in-virginia/#:~:text=Downgrading%20a%20handful%20of%20minor%20traffic%20violations%20to,people%20in%20the%20vehicle%20are%20committing%20other%20crimes.