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Case of the Month October 2001
Civilian Investigative Panel
In order to help bring a better understanding of the Bill of Rights in action, the ACLU of Florida website posts a Case of the Month. Each month, we highlight either a current case before the courts or current issues that affect civil liberties. In discussing the case, we hope to offer extensive learning materials, including lesson plans, teacher handouts, and balanced information on key legal issues, the attorneys, plaintiffs and defendants involved in the case, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) that may be of help to teachers and students alike.
For October, we have selected a current issue that deals with police practices and the need to overhaul the Miami Police Department's citizen complaint process. In the wake of growing scandal that led to the indictment of 13 Miami Police officers by the U.S. Government, a coalition of community organizations along with members of the city's top police brass devised a proposal for a Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP) charged with investigating police misconduct and reviewing police practices and policies. Although the proposal applies only to the City of Miami, independent civilian review boards have been created in cities nationwide. Eighty-percent of the largest cities in America, serving more than one-third of the population, have independent civilian review boards that oversee law enforcement agencies. In addition, one hundred U.S. police departments have civilian-run boards to police the police. Of those, 25 have subpoena powers to hear testimony from witnesses and review documents pertaining the investigation.
The following information addresses the importance of promoting trust between citizens and law enforcement through the creation of a civilian review board. By providing citizens with a means to bring complaints against law enforcement officers before a panel made up of mostly citizens, the Civilian Investigative Panel hopes to reduce public reluctance to file complaints, reduce procedural barriers in filing claims, and increase police accountability to the public it serves.
- Overview
- Legal Issues
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Lesson Plans
- Citizen Review of Police Department of Justice
Special thanks to summer law clerk Henry Ochoa and intern Rachel Schnepper for preparing the October 2001 Case of the Month.
