ERRPA
- Last Action
- 2/16/2017
Actions
- 2017-02-16Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2017-02-16Introduced in Senate
CRS Summary
As of 2017-02-16 (00)
End Racial and Religious Profiling Act of 2017 or ERRPA
This bill prohibits racial profiling by a federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agency or agent. The term "racial profiling" includes the practice of relying on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identify, or sexual orientation in making a routine or spontaneous law enforcement decision.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), or an individual injured by racial profiling, may bring a civil action to enforce the prohibition.
The bill requires federal law enforcement agencies to maintain policies and procedures to eliminate racial profiling, including training on racial profiling issues, the collection of data, and procedures for handling complaints.
Additionally, a state or unit of local government that receives grant funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program or Community Oriented Policing Services program must maintain policies and procedures to eliminate racial profiling, including training on racial profiling issues, the collection of data, and participation in an administrative complaint procedure or independent audit program. DOJ must withhold or reduce grant funds from a state or unit of local government that fails to comply.
The bill authorizes grants to develop and implement: (1) programs to collect data on the percentage of stops and searches in which a law enforcement officer finds drugs, a gun, or something else that leads to an arrest; and (2) best practice devices and systems to eliminate racial profiling.
DOJ must report annually on racial profiling by law enforcement agencies.
Cosponsors (20)
- Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
- Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- Cory Booker (D-NJ)
- Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
- Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
- Christopher Coons (D-DE)
- Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
- Richard Durbin (D-IL)
- Al Franken (D-MN)
- Kamala Harris (D-CA)
- Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
- Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
- Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
- Edward Markey (D-MA)
- Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
- Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
- Christopher Murphy (D-CT)
- Patty Murray (D-WA)
- Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
- Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Subjects
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Border security and unlawful immigration
- Civil actions and liability
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Criminal justice information and records
- Customs enforcement
- Department of Justice
- Government information and archives
- Government liability
- Law enforcement administration and funding
- Racial and ethnic relations
- Right of privacy
- Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.