Bill Summary
The "National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act of 2025" aims to enhance the transparency and accountability of law enforcement agencies by mandating the collection and reporting of data on the use of deadly force by officers.
Key provisions of the act include:
1. **Data Collection Requirements**: The Attorney General is tasked with establishing regulations that require law enforcement agencies at all levels (federal, state, and local) to collect detailed data on every instance of deadly force used. This data must include demographics of both the officer and the individual involved, circumstances surrounding the incident, and any non-lethal measures attempted prior to the use of deadly force.
2. **Standardized Reporting**: Agencies must use a standardized form for submitting data to the Department of Justice, ensuring consistency and facilitating analysis.
3. **Public Access and Privacy Protections**: While the Bureau of Justice Statistics will make the collected data publicly available, it will exclude any personally identifiable information to protect the privacy of those involved.
4. **Compliance Incentives**: States or localities that do not comply with the reporting requirements may face a reduction in future federal grant funding.
Overall, this legislation seeks to provide greater oversight of law enforcement practices and improve public understanding of the circumstances surrounding the use of deadly force.
Possible Impacts
The "National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act of 2025" could affect people in several ways:
1. **Increased Accountability of Law Enforcement**: By requiring law enforcement agencies to collect and report data on instances of deadly force, the legislation aims to make police actions more transparent. This could lead to greater public scrutiny of police practices, potentially resulting in changes to policies and training aimed at reducing instances of deadly force.
2. **Enhanced Community Trust**: As data becomes available regarding the use of deadly force, community members may feel more informed about law enforcement activities in their area. This transparency could help build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, particularly among marginalized groups who may feel disproportionately affected by police actions.
3. **Impact on Funding for Law Enforcement Agencies**: The legislation ties compliance with data reporting requirements to federal grant funding. If a state or local government fails to comply, it faces a reduction in grant funds. This could incentivize law enforcement agencies to prioritize accurate data collection and reporting, but it may also strain resources for those unable to meet the requirements, potentially affecting community policing efforts and public safety initiatives.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1240 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1240
To require the Attorney General to issue rules pertaining to the
collection and compilation of data on the use of deadly force by law
enforcement officers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2025
Mr. Cohen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Attorney General to issue rules pertaining to the
collection and compilation of data on the use of deadly force by law
enforcement officers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Statistics on Deadly Force
Transparency Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ISSUE REGULATIONS.
(a) Regulations.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with
stakeholders, including Federal, State, and local law enforcement
agencies and community, professional, research, and civil rights
organizations, shall issue regulations for the collection and
compilation of data pertaining to the use of deadly force by Federal,
State, or local law enforcement officers.
(b) Requirements.--The regulations issued under subsection (a)
shall--
(1) require the collection of data on all instances wherein
deadly force was used by a Federal, State, or local law
enforcement officer;
(2) require that the data collected shall--
(A) include identifying characteristics of the
person who was the target of the use of deadly force
and the officer who used deadly force, including--
(i) race or ethnicity;
(ii) gender;
(iii) approximate age; and
(iv) the actual or perceived religious
affiliation;
(B) include the date, time, and location of such
use of deadly force;
(C) include the alleged criminal activity of the
person who was the target of the use of deadly force;
(D) include the nature of the deadly force used,
including the use of a firearm;
(E) include an explanation, if any, from the
relevant law enforcement agency on why deadly force was
used;
(F) include a copy of any use of deadly force
guidelines in effect at the relevant law enforcement
agency at the time deadly force was used;
(G) include a description of any non-lethal efforts
employed to apprehend or subdue the person who was the
target of the use of deadly force before deadly force
was used; and
(H) not include personally identifiable information
described in section 4;
(3) provide that a standardized form shall be made
available to law enforcement agencies for the submission of
data collected pursuant to this Act to the Department of
Justice;
(4) require that law enforcement agencies compile data
using the standardized form made available under paragraph (3),
and submit the form to the Department of Justice Bureau of
Justice Statistics and any other component of the Department of
Justice that the Attorney General determines appropriate; and
(5) require that law enforcement agencies shall maintain
all data collected under this Act for not less than 4 years.
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS.
The Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics shall
provide to Congress and make available to the public the data collected
pursuant to this Act, excluding any personally identifiable information
described in section 4.
SEC. 4. LIMITATIONS ON PUBLICATION OF DATA.
The name or identifying information of a law enforcement officer,
person who was the target of the use of deadly force, or any other
individual involved in any activity for which data is collected and
compiled under this Act shall not be--
(1) released to the public;
(2) disclosed to any person, except for--
(A) such disclosures as are necessary to comply
with this Act;
(B) disclosures of information regarding a
particular person to that person; or
(C) disclosures pursuant to litigation; or
(3) subject to disclosure under section 552 of title 5,
United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of
Information Act), except for disclosures of information
regarding a particular person to that person.
SEC. 5. BYRNE JAG GRANT REDUCED FOR FAILURE TO REPORT.
In the case of a State or unit of local government that received a
grant award under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq.), if that
State or unit of local government fails substantially to comply with
the requirement under section 2 for a fiscal year, the Attorney General
shall reduce the amount that would otherwise be awarded to that State
or unit of local government under such grant program in the following
fiscal year by 10 percent.
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