We can live in a world where the police don't kill people by limiting police interventions, improving community interactions, and ensuring accountability.
Click The Categories Below for policy Solutions (download this graphic)
Campaign Zero encourages policymakers to focus on solutions with the strongest evidence of effectiveness at reducing police violence. Our platform is continuously updated in response to the findings and insights of researchers and organizers nationwide. Given the range of new research studies on implicit bias training, mental health training, community representation in policing, and body cameras finding little to no evidence of effectiveness at reducing police violence, we have flagged these policy areas with ⚠️ disclaimer.
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Campaign Zero is a project of the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, WeTheProtesters. Funds donated to Campaign Zero support the analysis of policing practices across the country, research to identify effective solutions to end police violence, technical assistance to organizers leading police accountability campaigns and the development of model legislation and advocacy to end police violence nationwide. Our tax ID number is 81-3764408.
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The Campaign
The Campaign
It will take deliberate action by policymakers at every level of government to end police violence.
Over 1,000 people are killed by police every year in America. We are calling on local, state, and federal lawmakers to take immediate action to adopt data-driven policy solutions to end this violence and hold police accountable.
Last Updated on 10/5/2020.
Here are the URGENT actions local, STATE, aND FEDERAL officials should take:
Take Action
Take Action
Under sustained pressure, elected officials have begun to enactlegislation to address police violence
Yet, despite this progress, more comprehensive action is needed. Use the tools below to track legislation impacting your community and hold your representatives accountable for taking meaningful action to end police violence.This page will be continuously updated. Email feedback@campaignzero.org to share your feedback.
Track Progress of Legislation
Federal, State, and Local Legislation Addressing Police Violence
At least 134 state laws have been enacted from 2014-2020 to address police violence New legislation has been enacted in 42 states from 2014-2020 12 states (CA, CO, CT, IL, LA, MD, NJ, NV, OR, UT, TX, WA) have enacted legislation addressing three or more Campaign Zero policy categories Local ordinances have been passed in many of America's largest cities
Demand Action from Your Representatives
Find Your STATE Representatives AND demand action TO END POLICE VIOLENCE
Lookup your state and federal representatives and tell them to pass the legislation immediately to end police violence. Share the Campaign Zero policy agenda with them and urge them to adopt it in your community.
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*For this analysis, legislation was reviewed in every state, the federal government, and a range of major cities to identify laws that have been enacted or are currently being considered that include one or more Campaign Zero recommendations. In addition to their positive aspects, some of these bills also include language that should be removed, improved, and/or replaced to more effectively address police violence and ensure accountability. The purpose of this analysis is not to endorse particular pieces of legislation, but to empower communities to hold their representatives accountable for taking action to end police violence. *The advocacy tool includes bills that are currently being considered and bills that have been voted on by a state's full house (lower) or senate (upper) chamber where vote roll call information is available at OpenStates.org. More bills will be added as they are introduced by legislators.
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Research
Research
Read the research studies, articles, and other documents on this page to learn more about the historical context, effectiveness, and key considerations for implementing Campaign Zero policy solutions. Email feedback@campaignzero.orgto propose documents to be added to this page.
Readings Police spend only about 4% of their time responding to violent crime. Why Broken Windows is not an effective approach to policing Study finds over-policing increases crime The racist, classist origins of Broken Windows policing Study: Ending broken windows policing would make communities safer Why public disorder doesn't lead to serious crime Ending Racial Profiling and Stop & Frisk How Stops & Frisks have been reduced in NYC Crisis Intervention Teams as a response to Mental Health Crises Effectiveness of Marijuana Decriminalization vs Legalization Evidence of Widespread Racial Profiling Data on Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops How community organizations reduce crime more than the police. How Medicaid expansion and substance abuse treatment reduces crime How police violence harm the community's mental health Readings Study: civilian oversight structures 78% more likely to sustain misconduct complaints. Review of Civilian Oversight Structures in 50 Largest US Cities Evaluating different Civilian Oversight Models National directory of Civilian Oversight Agencies The benefits of Civilian Oversight of the police How Newark's new Civilian Oversight Board could be a model for the nation The conservative case for Civilian Oversight Readings Mapping Police Violence database of killings by police Analysis of police shootings data and impact of DOJ reforms Why the US needs a stricter standard for use of deadly force Data shows the most violent officers also influence other officers to be violent How structural racism contributes to police shootings States Where Police Misconduct Records Are Kept From Public View Analysis of Underreported Police Killings Data How the government fails to collect comprehensive data on police killings The challenge of collecting national use of force data The effectiveness of Early Intervention Systems for police An analysis of police shootings involving moving vehicles Why police should be prohibited from shooting at moving vehicles Why the Current Use of Deadly Force Standard Needs to Change How Changing the Deadly Force Standard Reduced Police Killings Evidence police kill unarmed black people because of their race How police chases disproportionately impact black people How police violence may increase crime in communities How comprehensive reporting requirements reduce police shootings Analysis of Police Taser Deaths Best practices to limit police use of force Campaign Zero Model Use of Force Policy How Lexipol Gets Paid to Write 95% of CA Police Use of Force Policies Readings Model Legislation Establishing Special Prosecutor for Police Violence The data showing police are rarely charged with crimes after police killings Why special prosecutors are needed in cases of police violence Why local prosecutors don't charge police with crimes The status of statewide grand jury/prosecutor reforms Legal considerations with special prosecutor and grand jury reforms Readings Study: Police Race/Gender Diversity and Community Policing Don't Reduce Police Violence Data showing levels of racial diversity in U.S. police departments Why having a more diverse police force matters How officers' masculine self-image makes them more likely to use force against black men How female officers are less likely to use excessive force Evaluating residency requirements as a strategy to improve racial diversity of police departments How black representation on the police force reduces police killings of black people Fewer Black People are Killed by Police When Departments Are More Than 40% Black Readings How Colorado Strengthened Civilians' Right to Film the Police How to implement body cams in a way that promotes accountability and protects privacy Considerations for implementing body cams Study finds body cams don't reduce use of force, but also don't increase criminalization of communities Data showing when and how often body cam video gets released How body cams impacted use of force in San Diego Critical Policy Issues to Make Body Cameras Effective The dangers of body cams being misused as a tool for surveillance Why body cams need the right policies to be effective Considerations for making body cam footage accessible Why police shouldn't get to review body camera footage before they report How body cameras only reduce use of force with good policies How Video Evidence Is Now Involved in Most Cases Where Police Are Charged Learn About Body Camera Laws in Your State Readings Experiment shows officers trained in Procedural Justice less likely to make arrests or use force Study finds Procedural Justice training reduces police use of force and complaints Study: Mental Health Training did not reduce police violence How racial bias informs police officers' decisions to shoot Characteristics of officers that predict violence against black people Learn About Police De-escalation Training Requirements in Your State The problem with how police are trained How the way police are currently trainined is ineffective How police training in the US falls short compared to other countries How procedural justice and fairness training impact perceptions of police Recommendations for Improving Police Training Readings Different Ways Governments Pay Police Misconduct Settlements Learn About the Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws in Your State How police and the courts profit from low-income residents in St. Louis County How profit incentives influence policing in Ferguson How to reform municipal courts in St. Louis to stop profiting off of low-income, black residents How to structure fines based on a person's ability to pay How police use civil asset forfeiture as a tool to increase revenue How Philadelphia police seize cash from poor, black people Analysis of Civil Forfeiture Cash Seizures 10 Largest Police Depts Paid $1B in Misconduct Settlements Over 5 Years Readings The origins of police militarization See the military equipment the federal government has given to police departments A police officer's perspective on militarization How police receive military weapons to combat drugs, not terrorism Key challenges in reversing police militarization Best practices and models for demilitarizing police departments How SWAT raids have increased since the 1980's Study shows more militarized police are more likely to kill people How Montana Is Addressing Police Militarization Another study finds police militarization contributes to killings by police. Readings Study: Joining Police Unions increased Violent Misconduct by 40% How police union contracts let arbitrators decide police discipline Analysis: Police Depts with More Problematic Police Union Contracts Are More Likely to Kill Unarmed Civilians Analysis of How Police Bill of Rights Laws Block Accountability Campaign Zero Police Union Contract Recommendations for Columbus, OH The role of police unions in blocking police reform How police bills of rights prevent officers from being held accountable for police violence A history and overview of police officers' bills of rights The special protections for police officers included in police bills of rights Cities with Police Union Contracts Are Half As Likely to Sustain An Excessive Force Complaint How police bills of rights impede accountability in 14 states How Baltimore's police union contract impedes accountability How police union contract provisions are not based on scientific evidence How police unions in Chicago negotiated contracts that shield officers from accountability How Police Union Contracts Allow Fired Officers to Get Rehired Review and Recommendations for Police Union Contracts How Police Union Contracts Blocked DOJ Consent Decrees in 41% of Cases Reuters Investigation of Problematic Police Union Contract Provisions
