To direct the Attorney General to establish a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of body-worn camera continuous training programs.
Bill: H.R.7626 | Sponsor: Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. (D-MI)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of body-worn camera continuous training programs in improving policing, including community relations with law enforcement. It allows DOJ to award grants to states and local governments for carrying out these training programs.

To direct the Attorney General to establish a pilot program to 
  determine the effectiveness of body-worn camera continuous training 
                               programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Although several studies have found significant 
        improvements in police-citizen encounters following the 
        implementation of body-worn cameras a recent meta-analysis of 
        the available research literature found that overall, the use 
        of body-worn cameras had no statistically significant impact on 
        officers' use of force.
            (2) Evidence suggests that one barrier to continuous 
        quality improvement through use of body-worn cameras is lack of 
        monitoring or a structured system of accountability. Body-worn 
        camera footage appears to be used for other purposes, such as 
        confirming the details of events for reports, rather than 
        quality improvement efforts.
            (3) Preliminary evidence from health care settings suggests 
        that body-worn cameras can have significant effects on behavior 
        if they are used for the purpose of continuous quality 
        improvement and feedback is provided.
            (4) Researchers have suggested that the implementation of 
        the health care model may show similar positive outcomes in 
        police accountability.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR BODY-WORN CAMERA CONTINUOUS TRAINING.

    (a) Establishment of Program.--The Attorney General is authorized 
to establish a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of body-
worn camera continuous training programs in improving policing, 
including community relations with law enforcement.
    (b) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Attorney General is authorized to 
        award grants to States and units of local government (as such 
        terms are defined in section 901 of the Omnibus Crime Control 
        and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10251)) to assist in 
        carrying out body-worn camera continuous training programs.
            (2) Duration.--The Attorney General shall award grants 
        under this section for a period not to exceed 3 years.
            (3) Application.--
                    (A) In general.--The head of a jurisdiction seeking 
                a grant under this section shall submit an application 
                to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, 
                and accompanied by such information as the Attorney 
                General may reasonably require.
                    (B) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant 
                to subparagraph (A) shall--
                            (i) describe the activities for which 
                        assistance under this section is sought; and
                            (ii) provide such additional assurances as 
                        the Attorney General determines to be essential 
                        to ensure compliance with the requirements of 
                        this section.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $X for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2025 to carry 
out this section.
    (d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report on the 
pilot program carried out under this section.
    (e) Body-Worn Camera Continuous Training Program Defined.--In this 
Act, the term ``body-worn camera continuous training program'' means a 
training program carried out by a law enforcement agency, on an ongoing 
basis, that includes a supervisor conducting a review of a law 
enforcement officer's body-worn camera footage with that law 
enforcement officer, in order to improve policing, including community 
relations with law enforcement.
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