Press Releases

 Santa Barbara, CA – Today, Congressman Carbajal joined a bipartisan group of members in voting to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the first-ever comprehensive approach to reform police practices and hold problem police officers accountable.

“Americans in every corner of the country are demanding change to the systematic racism Black Americans and people of color face in our justice system and society. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act delivers on those calls for change by reforming our policing practices to improve transparency,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This bill is about rebuilding trust within our communities and holding problem police officers accountable so that law enforcement can more effectively protect and serve all members of the community. We can and must do better, and today we took action to usher in long overdue change.”

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will:

• Establish a national standard for how police departments should operate;
• Mandate data collection on police encounters;
• Reprogram existing funds to invest in community-based policing programs;
• Establish independent prosecutors for police investigations;
• Reform qualified immunity so that individuals are not barred from recovering damages when police violate their constitutional rights;
• Prohibits certain practices, including chokeholds, carotid holds, and no-knock warrants in drug cases.

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A summary of the various components of the bill, prepared by the Congressional Black Caucus and the House Judiciary Committee, is available here.

Images of Congressman Carbajal attending a peaceful protest in Santa Maria are available here.