JULY ISSUE

LOS ANGELES COUNTY TAKES ACTION TO REDUCE RACIAL DISPARITIES WITH NEW JUSTICE NAVIGATOR ASSESSMENTS

The Center for Policing Equity (CPE) and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) recently released Justice Navigator Assessments (JNAs) for eight of LASD’s substations: Carson, Century, Compton, East LA, Industry, Lakewood, South LA, and Temple. CPE conducted station-level analyses to identify racial disparities in police interactions, highlight areas for policy and organizational change, and provide communities with the facts needed to foster safety.

RECENT UPDATES

CPE SUBMITS LETTERS TO LAWMAKERS REGARDING PENDING STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION

These letters provide policymakers in California and Washington, D.C., with the data-driven insights needed to make our public safety systems safer and more equitable.

• Support for California Rights Act (SB 110). If passed, SB 110 would prevent the state’s resources, personnel, and property from being used in federal task forces that involve racial profiling, criminalization of protected speech, or actions that violate California law.
• Support for California’s Racial Justice Act (AB 1958). Strengthens the law by providing clear procedures for evaluating claims of racial, ethnic, or national origin bias in charging and sentencing.
• Opposition to federal bills seeking to repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-345). The CPJRAA is a D.C. law aimed at increasing police accountability, transparency, and training. Repealing it would jeopardize progress made on the creation of a 13-member Use of Force Review Board, restricting neck restraints, increasing body-worn camera transparency, and prohibiting the use of certain, less-than-lethal weapons during protests.

NEW BLOG: SAFETY IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS

By Kaylan Martin, Director of Corporate Relations, CPE

Safety has never been the responsibility of one institution alone. It is created—or diminished—by the choices we make together.

When people think about public safety, they often think about emergency response or law enforcement. But long before a crisis occurs, safety is being shaped by hundreds of everyday decisions—many of which happen outside the criminal legal system.

FIELD NOTES

The Marshall Project

WHY NEW YORK’S ‘PRECISION POLICING’ RAISES CIVIL RIGHTS CONCERNS

The NYPD’s new “precision policing” effort bears a striking resemblance to a previous NYPD initiative known as “broken windows,” known for use of overpolicing tactics that do not reduce crime. Dr. Phillip Atiba Solomon explains how both efforts create unnecessary interactions between police and civilians and exacerbate racial disparities.

The Atlanta Black Star

BLACK SELF-DEFENSE DOESN’T COUNT: KARMELO ANTHONY’S 35-YEAR SENTENCE REIGNITES DEBATE OVER WHETHER EQUAL JUSTICE IS A MYTH IN AMERICA

A recent ruling in the murder trial of a White teenager has sparked questions about whether racial disparities and the adultification of Black children influence the severity of sentencing in criminal cases involving youth. 

CPE Co-founder and CEO Dr. Phillip Atiba Solomon and fellow researchers found that Black children are often treated as adults by age 13, if not well before. → Read the findings

ICYMI

CPE WEBINAR EXPLORES HOW FAITH LEADERS CAN ADVOCATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES

CPE partnered with Salvation and Social Justice (SandSJ), a Black-led organization working to abolish structural racism, for a webinar on how faith institutions can help implement community-driven solutions to public safety issues. Using real-world examples, panelists discussed issues of housing instability, inequalities in Black and mental health outcomes, violence interruption, youth engagement, and more.

CPE PRESENTS AT TWO CONFERENCES IN DALLAS AND CHICAGO

CPE’s Cierren Edmonson, Policy Research Associate, presented on “Redefining Public Safety: Substance Use Deflection and Community-led Response” during the National Co-Responder Conference in Dallas on June 9 alongside the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the Ohio Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. → See the presentation slides here.

Jessica Mofield, Vice President of Policy and Community Engagement at CPE, presented on the state of Alternative Response Programs, or ARPs, in the country, ARP research trends, local lessons, and how practitioners can implement them during the “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees: How Local Elected Officials are Fighting for Financial Sustainability” panel at the Advancing the Field of Alternative Response Convening in Chicago on June 4. → See the presentation slides here.

3 Things on My Mind

If you’re wondering what’s been on my mind lately, here are three things that grabbed my attention—and that I think deserve yours, too:

1. Prosecutorial independence is a democracy issue—full stop.
Politicians trying to strong-arm prosecutors? That’s a direct hit to justice—and Prosecutors Alliance Action’s new report lays it all out. → Read the report

2. AI can actually help—if we get it right.
Anthropic’s Claude Corps is flipping the script, connecting AI experts with nonprofits to make tech work for people, not just profit. → Learn more

3. Federal agents raiding a voting rights group? That’s wild.
Hands Off Ohio just got raided for defending the vote—proof that democracy needs all of us paying attention right now. → See how you can help

Dr. Phillip Atiba Solomon

CEO & Co-Founder

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