Bill Overview
Title: Civil Rights Cold Case Investigations Support Act of 2022
Description: This act extends the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board until 2026 (or 2027 if the board opts for an additional one-year extension). The board reviews the decisions of federal agencies to postpone the disclosure of civil rights cold case records (i.e., unsolved civil rights cases from 1940-1979).
Sponsors: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Target Audience
Population: People with potential interest or stake in US civil rights cold cases from 1940-1979
Estimated Size: 1800000
- The act deals with civil rights cold cases from 1940-1979 in the United States, which impacts those whose rights or family members' rights were violated during that era.
- Families of victims from civil rights cold cases will likely have increased access to information, which could lead to resolutions or closure.
- Society at large may benefit from increased transparency and resolution of historical injustices, helping to mend historical racial and social tensions.
- Organizations and workers involved in civil rights may see a role in consulting, advising, or aiding in these investigations.
Reasoning
- The Civil Rights Cold Case Investigations Support Act aims to provide resolution to civil rights cases from 1940-1979, predominantly impacting African American families whose relatives were victims of racial violence or discrimination.
- Considering the historical nature of these cases, the policy primarily affects descendants and surviving family members of the victims, as well as advocates and historians.
- These interviews represent a fraction of those potentially impacted, focusing on diverse views including those who see potential benefits, those skeptical about the policy's impact, and those largely unaffected.
- Budgetary constraints imply only a narrow scope of cases can be reviewed each year, impacting the potential breadth of cases addressed and possibly limiting the overall impact over the society.
Simulated Interviews
Retired school teacher (Birmingham, AL)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've hoped for years to learn the truth about my grandfather's case.
- This policy could be a step towards closure for my family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 3 |
Civil Rights Activist (Jackson, MS)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can provide an important opportunity to correct historical wrongs.
- I hope it receives the necessary support to focus on the most critical cases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Historian (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The extension of the board could bring new insights into civil rights history.
- However, the effectiveness will depend on the transparency of the processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Lawyer (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that this policy will create more work opportunities in the civil rights legal field.
- It's crucial both for justice and for broader societal healing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired factory worker (Memphis, TN)
Age: 80 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Such a policy might be the last chance for truth and acknowledgment for my brother's case.
- I worry we'll run out of time before anything substantial happens.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 0 |
Journalist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While policies like these are great on paper, they often lack real impact.
- Media involvement could hold the government accountable to act on these cases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Community Organizer (Montgomery, AL)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this extended support could rejuvenate community efforts toward documenting our history.
- There needs to be enough funding to ensure thorough and timely investigations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
College Student (New York, NY)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm optimistic about what this policy could teach us about past injustices and how to prevent future ones.
- It'll be interesting to study the cases that emerge.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Data Scientist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act may open up more datasets for analysis, allowing for new insights into civil rights cases.
- However, privacy and ethical considerations will be key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Nonprofit Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy brings some long overdue justice to families still dealing with the aftermath of racial violence.
- Coordination with local organizations will be crucial for meaningful impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 2: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 3: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 5: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 10: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 100: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Key Considerations
- The finite scope of historical years and defined focus on a specific set of civil rights cases limit the policy's broader economic impact.
- The act primarily deals with resolving historical injustices rather than addressing contemporary social issues.