Are Police Bill of Rights Laws Blocking Accountability?
19 states currently have special laws called “Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights” (LEOBR) laws. The laws vary from state to state, but most give special rights to police officers that ordinary people do not get and prevents communities from investigating misconduct that could lead to discipline. These special rights include protections during the investigation of misconduct (including procedural privileges like allowing delays before questioning an officer about misconduct), limits on what discipline can be imposed for certain misconduct, and expungement of disciplinary records.
Maryland was the first state to enact a state LEOBR law, and in April 2021, it became the first state to repeal the law. Maryland’s repeal has called attention to the issue and served as an inspiration to others around the country.
Watch this video for an overview of Police Bill of Rights Laws and a special interview of Speaker Adrienne Jones of the Maryland House of Delegates:
To learn more about each state’s Police Bill of Rights Law, click here: