Chicago Moves Forward With Much Needed Comprehensive Policing Reform Efforts

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and former head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), issued the following statement after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued a draft of a consent decree to enforce reforms to the Chicago Police Department:

“In the face of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Session’s abdication of his congressionally mandated responsibility, we applaud Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and her office for working with the community and the Chicago police department in negotiating a long-term, comprehensive consent decree to address serious systemic problems and rebuild community trust. The agreement will ensure proper police training, accountability, and community engagement. These measures are necessary to ensure that police services are delivered in a manner consistent with the Constitution, promote public safety, and ensure officer safety and wellness.”

The provisions in the agreement, while precisely tailored to the conditions in Chicago, are consistent with the types of agreements negotiated by the Civil Rights Division during the Obama administration. We hope that other state and local governments will follow Illinois’ lead and take the important step to advance policing reform.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.