Establish Civilian Review Boards of the Police county-wide

After 5 years of work by the Coalition for Citizen Polive Review, and work to elect a new Mayor, The City of Urbana is about to establish the first Civilian Review Board of Police in the area. View the draft ordinance. The goal is to establish a CPRB in Champaign, Rantoul, and the County as well.

From the Coalition for Citizen Police Review website:

Why a Coalition for Citizen Police Review?

The Coalition for Citizen Police Review is a grassroots group of concerned local
citizens and community organizations. Members of the coalition, which was
formed in 2001, were dismayed by a series of incidents of seeming police misconduct
in the cities of Champaign and Urbana. These incidents were investigated, and
dismissed as being without foundation, solely by the local police departments. In
order to ensure equal justice for all of our citizens, and to enhance public confidence
in our police departments, the coalition determined that citizen oversight boards
for the police in the twin cities are both necessary and desirable.

What is a Citizen Police Review Board?

A citizen police review board is an impartial body of ordinary citizens,
independent of the police department, empowered to receive and investigate
citizen complaints against police officers and to perform other oversight functions.

A Citizen Police Review Board will:

• Evaluate citizen complaints about police conduct.
• Examine policies and procedures of the police department to ensure that
they genuinely serve the interests of justice for all in the community.
• Issue periodic reports to the community about complaint resolution and about police activities and procedures.

How are complaints about the police in Champaign and Urbana handled now?

In both Champaign and Urbana, complaints about the police are investigated by the police departments themselves. This situation tends to discourage citizen input and to promote secrecy.

Why do Urbana and Champaign need Citizen Police Review Boards?

A citizen police review board protects citizens:

• Citizens may receive an impartial hearing of any complaints they may have about the conduct of their police officers or police department.
• Citizens will know that their complaints are being taken seriously and fully investigated.
• The community will have greater confidence in its police department by being assured that there is active, impartial oversight.

A citizen police review board protects the police:

• Frivolous or unfounded accusations against the police will be impartially exposed without the suspicion of a “cover-up”.
• A review board will help to foster better relations and trust between the police and the community.

Are Citizen Police Review Boards effective?

Yes. Studies by the United States Department of Justice, the ACLU and the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement have examined the effectiveness of police review boards. These studies have found that citizen police review boards which have genuine autonomy and which enjoy the support of all segments of the community can greatly improve police-community relations.

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