Transformative Justice Coalition Opposes Attorney Sessions' Efforts To Halt Consent Decrees

WASHINGTON - April 13, 2017 - PRLog -- The Transformative Justice Coalition, a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2015 to promote racial, gender, economic and environmental justice, is appalled by the recent actions of Attorney General Jefferson B. Sessions. In a two-page memo released last Monday, AG Sessions' sought to put a stop on consent decrees within Baltimore City, as well as those currently under federal management.

Barbara Arnwine, renowned Civil Rights Leader and Executive President of the Transformative Justice Coalition, stated that AG Sessions is "misguided in his beliefs that a curtailment of these measures is necessary 'to ensure that those pacts [between the police departments and the DOJ] do not work against the Trump Administrations goals of promoting officer safety and morale while fighting violent crime.'"

Mrs. Arnwine adds, "Despite AG Sessions' contentions, consent decrees are necessary to resolve unconstitutional and unlawful conduct. These consent decrees and agreements are implemented by court order, the cities themselves, or negotiated by cities and the DOJ to reform police practices following detailed reports of human and civil rights violations."

Mrs. Arnwine said, "We welcome Judge Bredar's approval of the Baltimore consent decree (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/federal...) last Friday to improve policing in a city that so desperately needs this form of guidance. We urge the DOJ not to turn its back on ongoing investigations in the cities of Chicago, Illinois, Ville Platte, Louisiana, Evangeline Parrish, Louisiana and, Orange County, Florida."

Mrs. Arnwine explained, 'The public purpose of consent decrees is to prohibit unrestrained and unchecked police powers, which present a danger to all Americans. At a minimum, police should be exemplars in following the Constitution and our nations laws. The consent decrees also serve to put the world on notice of horrendous practices in law enforcement agencies around the nation in order prevent misconduct, racial profiling, sexual harassment, and unjustified killings."

Mrs. Arnwine noted, "The sheer size of the police forces nationwide, composed of 18,000 departments with 750,340 sworn law enforcement officers (http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/nsleed.pdf), demonstrates how vital it is that the nation ensure our laws are followed. If the police act as unethical renegades and negate their constitutional duties under the law, their ability to effectually carry out the law is diminished, undermining the purpose of police power, and destroying the lives and hopes of all citizens."

Mrs. Arnwine concluded, "In effect, AG Session's actions serve to constrain the DOJ from upholding the Constitution by holding accountable police departments that exhibit explicit and implicit bias in communities of color rather than ensuring compliance and enforcing public safety. In addition, the families and loved ones of the victims would be deprived of justice a second time, if these cities were not held accountable by ensuring reform of these law enforcement agencies to protect all citizens."

Mrs. Arnwine recalled, "During the Obama Administration, the DOJ under the leadership of AG Eric Holder and AG Loretta Lynch conducted more civil rights investigations than previous administrations, which could be attributed to their emphasis on ensuring the security and rights of the American people. These Obama Era reforms were necessary following widespread constitutional violations of the rights of the very citizens law enforcement swore an oath to protect and serve. Thus, the negotiation of consent decrees in these troubled police departments does not demonstrate a lack of competence, which AG Sessions implied through his actions; rather it demonstrates their commitment to the public confidence and security."

Mrs. Arnwine contended that "AG Sessions is misguided. Most troubling, AG Sessions misses the fact that consent decrees are not meant to be a statement of presidential policy, but are lawful orders under the law, which supersede the policies of any presidential administration. AG Sessions should immediately rescind the stop on consent decrees. Mrs. Arnwine stated that 'it is up to the DOJ under AG Sessions to ensure civil rights of all citizens regardless of race, gender, or disability are upheld under the constitution and out nations laws.'"

Mrs. Arnwine recalled, "AG Sessions noted in the memo the importance of interagency relationships to improve the public safety for all Americans. We agree, but he still misses the important point that public safety is much more assured when agencies are held accountable and serve as models for the community. With our commitment to civil and human rights of all citizens, we believe it is imperative that the DOJ under the leadership of AG Sessions does not seek to regress 20 years of reform agreements that communities have relied upon."

Table of Authorities

1. Alice Speri, "As Attorney General, Jeff Sessions Would Destroy The DOJ'S "Crown Jewel," The Intercept_ (2017), (accessed Apr 4, 2017).

2. Bureau of Justice Statistics, "National Sources of Law Enforcement Employment Data (2016)," https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5600

National Sources of Law Enforcement Employment Data (Accessed April 4, 2017).

3. Daniel Victor, Judge Approves Consent Decree to Overhaul Baltimore Police Dept. The New York Times (2017), https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/baltimore-justice-department-police-consent-decree.html (accessed Apr 7, 2017).

Ed Krayweski, Jeff Sessions Orders Review of All Consent Decrees, Plus a Host of Other DOJ Activities: DOJ also asked for postponement of Baltimore consent decree hearing Reason.com (2017), http://reason.com/blog/2017/04/04/jeff-sessions-orders-review-of-all-conse (accessed Apr 4, 2017).

Jefferson B. Sessions, Supporting Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement, 1:17-cv-00099-JKB (2017), http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3535148-Consentdecreebaltimore.html (accessed April 4, 2017).