Bill Overview
Title: COPS Responsible Administration and Management Act
Description: This bill provides for evaluations of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program with respect to its administration and effectiveness, as well as the compliance of grantees with civil rights laws. It also provides for grants and other changes to the COPS program to support (1) state and local participation in the National Use-of-Force Data Collection of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and (2) conformance of state and local law enforcement agencies with federal policies that generally prohibit chokeholds and no-knock entries.
Sponsors: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals served or impacted by state and local law enforcement agencies
Estimated Size: 200000000
- The COPS Responsible Administration and Management Act focuses on the Community Oriented Policing Services program which is targeted at law enforcement agencies.
- Law enforcement agencies at state and local levels will be directly engaged with the COPS program initiatives, impacting their operational procedures.
- State and local law enforcement officers, estimated at over 800,000 in the U.S., will potentially need to adopt and train for new procedures that align with federal policies.
- The communities served by these law enforcement officers could see changes in policing tactics, especially concerning use-of-force incidents.
- According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are approximately 17,985 local and state law enforcement agencies in the U.S., all of which may be influenced by this legislation.
- The number of people impacted could reflect community populations across the U.S., totaling in the tens of millions who interact with law enforcement.
Reasoning
- The impact of the policy will primarily be on law enforcement officers and the communities they serve, as the policy targets procedural changes and civil rights compliance for local and state agencies.
- With over 800,000 law enforcement officers in the U.S., changes to procedures involving use-of-force and data collection are significant.
- Communities, especially those that have strained relationships with law enforcement, may experience improved morale and trust if the policy is well-implemented.
- This policy might not directly affect groups without regular contact with local police or those in areas with already high compliance to federal standards.
- Given budget constraints and the large number of involved agencies, complete procedural shifts may be gradual and vary significantly across locations, leading to varied perceptions and impacts.
- It’s necessary to consider a range of individuals to get a comprehensive understanding, from law enforcement officers to community members with differing trust levels towards policing.
Simulated Interviews
Police Officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see a lot of potential in the COPS program to build better relationships with the community.
- Chokeholds and no-knocks have been controversial; moving away from them could reduce tensions.
- There are a lot of changes officers will need to adapt to, which could be challenging, particularly for older officers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Community Organizer (Houston, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that promotes transparency in police actions is crucial for our community.
- We have had major issues with force used by police; these changes could save lives.
- If implemented well, this policy could mean a better future for our children with less fear of police brutality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired Farmer (Rural Iowa)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this will change much for folks like us who don't often deal with the police.
- It's important for cities, but here, we're already on good terms with our local officers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems like a good step in the right direction for civil rights.
- If it leads to more accountable policing, I would support it fully.
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 | 8 | 7 |
Police Captain (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It will be a logistical challenge but necessary to align with modern compliance standards.
- We need clear guidelines and support to make these changes, especially concerning data collection and chokehold policies.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m skeptical but hopeful that these reforms could help curb police brutality.
- It’s essential for community trust that such policies are backed by real accountability mechanisms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
School Teacher (Detroit, MI)
Age: 57 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm deeply invested in seeing how this plays out for both our kids and police department relationships.
- Education on new policies will be key to the community trusting these changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'll wait to see if this actually results in safer communities, which is what every business needs.
- It’s essential for businesses to feel that law enforcement is both effective and fair.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Freelance Journalist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could shine a light on necessary data collection regarding use-of-force incidents.
- Transparency should always be a priority, and these steps are in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired Nurse (Boston, MA)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm heartened by the focus on civil rights compliance, especially with older policies.
- The ability to access real-time data on police use-of-force incidents is critical for accountability.
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 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $105000000 (Low: $84000000, High: $126000000)
Year 3: $110000000 (Low: $88000000, High: $132000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $96000000, High: $144000000)
Year 10: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $240000000, High: $360000000)
Key Considerations
- The program emphasizes compliance with civil rights laws, which could improve public perception of law enforcement agencies.
- Potential long-term benefits include improved public safety and community relationships, though these are harder to quantify immediately.
- Coordination with the FBI's data collection efforts strengthens federal-state-local cooperation, which might require logistical investments.