Work on reform and modernization of the justice system, including police reform, continues full steam during the interim leading up to the 2021 Legislative Session. Work began in the spring of this year, and a number of bills were enacted in the First and Second Special Sessions of the Oregon Legislature in June and August of 2020, respectively, including legislation relating to limits on labor arbitrators, establishing a Joint Committee on Transparent Policing and Use of Force Reform to spearhead some of the continuing work, use of force (chokeholds), mandatory reporting of misconduct, a statewide discipline database, limitations on the use of tear gas, and use of force (generally).
The joint committee has been meeting regularly since July, holding public hearings on a number of concepts. Workgroups chaired by the committee co chairs, Senator James Manning (D- Eugene) and Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Clackamas) have also been convening to focus on specific reform issues. Existing workgroups include:
- Anti-Doxxing Workgroup;
- Policy Identification and Uniform Requirement Workgroup; and
- Riot and Unlawful Assembly Reform Workgroup.
As a measure of transparency, the joint committee has also recently made available a webpage for the posting of legislative concepts resulting from the workgroup discussions. Additional drafts and workgroup discussion items are being added to the page as available. Some legislative concepts have already been posted, including drafts related to the following:
Other ongoing work includes bail reform, behavioral health, collections, community corrections, court technology, employment and discipline, expunctions, liability, restitution, riot, sentencing, and uniforms.
Contributed by: Rob Bovett | Legal Counsel and Legislative Director