New California Bills That Could Roll Back Police Reform

If you or a loved one has been the victim of police misconduct, you may be able to file a civil rights lawsuit under federal or California law. A Riverside police misconduct lawyer at Skapik Law Group can help you fight for justice and accountability.

Recently, both California voters and legislators have either taken action, or attempted to do so, in an effort to roll back previous police misconduct and sentencing reforms. While the bills have not yet passed the full Legislature, they have backing from powerful police interests. The result is that there is considerable uncertainty about whether prior efforts and reform will survive.

Schedule a free initial consultation with a police misconduct attorney at Skapik Law Group by calling us at (909) 398-4404 if your civil rights have been violated by law enforcement. We can take an aggressive approach to your case as we fight for the compensation that you deserve.

Prior Police Reforms Are Under Sustained Attack

The California legislature and voters passed a host of laws to reform police and criminal justice practices, beginning in 2014. The state began to make large strides in police reform against the backdrop of a lengthy history of instances of law enforcement misconduct in California. However, the pendulum seems to be swinging back the other way, as the California legislature is working to roll back some of these criminal justice reforms. The end result could be that your civil rights may be at risk of violations such as police brutality and wrongful arrests. 

One of the major steps was not taken legislatively, but rather through the ballot box. Voters passed Proposition 36 in the 2024 election. This ballot measure aims to roll back sentencing reforms. In 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47, which rolled back tough sentences on certain drug and retail theft crimes. Previously, a ballot measure to repeal these reforms failed in 2020 during a period of heightened sensitivity to criminal justice issues after the murder of George Floyd. However, when voters were given another chance to pass this initiative in 2024, they did so overwhelmingly. Now, certain criminal defendants face tougher sentencing if they are convicted of these crimes. 

Pending Bills That Could Reverse Police Reforms

On the legislative front, there are two bills, both backed by police unions, that are awaiting potential passage. One legislator has introduced a bill that aims to repeal the Racial Identity and Profiling Act (RIPA), which was originally signed into law in 2015. RIPA mandated that law enforcement agencies provide information on vehicle stops and racial profiling complaints to a state advisory board. The original law was necessary in light of the fact Black motorists are stopped by police 127% more frequently than would be expected if police stops were race-neutral. Latino motorists are stopped by law enforcement 44% more frequently than expected under the same data metrics. AB 284 aims to repeal the original law. It has already passed in the California Assembly, and it is awaiting a floor vote in the Senate. The bill has uncertain prospects for passage, despite an intense lobbying campaign by organizations backed by law enforcement. 

Another legislator has proposed Senate Bill 758, which would restore a prosecutor’s ability to reject a potential juror in a police misconduct case on the grounds that they have had negative experiences with police in the past. If the proposed bill becomes law, a prosecutor can move to strike a prospective juror without any further explanation if they express any negative views about law enforcement. This law would apply in any case where a police officer is a criminal defendant after facing charges for actions that they took on the job. There have been no votes of any kind in the Senate on this bill, but it will remain alive for the duration of the legislative sentence.

Finally, AB 1178 would curtail law enforcement’s ability to access records of officers who have been accused of certain instances of misconduct, including excessive force and wrongful arrests or searches. It is vital for police departments to have access to this information, especially when they are considering hiring an officer who may have a prior record of misconduct. 

What this means for you is that the police lobby may be nearing success on many of its efforts to unwind much-needed reforms. Although police brutality is still illegal, some of the measures that mandate disclosure, or that are aimed to provide a statutory counterweight, are under threat. 

Contact a Riverside County Police Misconduct Law Firm Today

You can take the first step in the fight for justice when you have been the victim of illegal actions by law enforcement by reaching out to a police misconduct attorney in California at Skapik Law Group. You can schedule a free initial consultation by sending us a message online or by calling us today at (909) 398-4404.