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Policing

Law enforcement must protect both public safety and the rights of individuals. This is why arrests and use of force should be last resorts, not first options, for police. The ACLU-WA advocates for stronger laws regulating police use of force, alternatives to arrest and incarceration, and de-escalation practices and training. And to ensure law enforcement is accountable to the people they serve, the ACLU-WA works for greater community oversight, such as independent civilian review boards with disciplinary authority.

Resources

Published: 
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Over the past decade, one out of every five homicide victims in Washington have been killed by a law enforcement officer.
Published: 
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
A foster mother shares her experience of losing her son to police violence
News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Last week, Bellingham voters approved a ban on government use of facial recognition and predictive policing technologies by their city.
News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
NAACP Vancouver Branch 1139, the ACLU of Washington, and several other organizations have formally requested the United States Department of Justice to investigate the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and Clark County Sherriff’s Office (CCSO).
Published: 
Monday, November 8, 2021
Our organization and more than a dozen others sent a letter to the United States Department of Justice to formally request the agency investigate the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and Clark County Sheriff's Office. It’s a request we don’t make lightly, but given the situation in southwest Washington, it’s time for a new approach.
Published: 
Friday, October 29, 2021
Black and Indigenous peoples and people of color, in particular, are disproportionately harmed by violent crime, and by highly funded, militarized police departments.
Published: 
Monday, August 9, 2021
As Seattle prepares to head into budget deliberations for the City’s 2022 budget, it is important for decision makers to understand that the Seattle Consent Decree does not stand in the way of making changes to the Seattle Police Department (SPD) budget.

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