HB 2018 - DIGEST

(SEE ALSO PROPOSED 1ST SUB)

     Provides that local law enforcement agencies shall comply with the recommendations of the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs regarding racial profiling.

     Requires local law enforcement agencies to:

     (1) Adopt a written policy designed to condemn and prevent racial profiling;

     (2) Review and audit their existing procedures, practices, and training to ensure that they do not enable or foster the practice of racial profiling;

     (3) Continue training to address the issues related to racial profiling.  Officers should be trained in how to better interact with persons they stop so that legitimate police actions are not misperceived as racial profiling;

     (4) Ensure that they have in place a citizen complaint review process that can adequately address instances of racial profiling.  The process must be accessible to citizens and must be fair.  Officers found to be engaged in racial profiling must be held accountable through the appropriate disciplinary procedures within each department;

     (5) Work with the minority groups in their community to appropriately address the issue of racial profiling; and

     (6) Within fiscal constraints, collect demographic data on traffic stops and analyze that data to ensure that racial profiling is not occurring.

     Requires the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, in cooperation with the criminal justice training commission, to report to the legislature by December 31, 2001, and each December 31st thereafter, on the progress and accomplishments of each local law enforcement agency in the state in meeting the requirements and goals set forth in this act.