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Dahlia Grossman-Heinze
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Legislation is designed to end profiling by defining the problem, collecting better data, and providing path for reporting complaints
Salem, Ore. – Community leaders, law enforcement officers, and Oregonians who have experienced profiling testified at a legislative hearing Monday in support of three bills designed to put an end to profiling in Oregon by clearly defining the problem in statute, collecting better data, and providing a path for reporting profiling complaints.
“Profiling is an issue across the country, and in Oregon as well,” said Rep. Peter Buckley, House District 5. “We have a moral obligation to do everything we can to ensure equal justice for all in our state, and the legislation we are proposing will help clarify the extent of profiling in Oregon, and take the steps needed to eliminate it. Every Oregonian should feel safe and respected in their community.”
“Profiling goes beyond the outcome of any one encounter,” said Rep. Lew Frederick, House District 43. “Over time it leads to buildup of resentment based on lack of respect, and that resentment leads to increased tension carried into the next interaction with officers, and that isn’t good for citizens or officers. Profiling damages the police due to lost credibility, and damages the community due to lost trust. It’s past time to put a stop to it.”
A broad coalition submitted testimony in support of the bills, including: Urban League of Portland, Basic Rights Oregon, UCC, NAACP, Center for Intercultural Organizing, SEIU, AFL-CIO, NAACP, and PCUN.
Legislation to End Profiling
Together, HB 2001, HB 2002 and HB 2003 work to define profiling, collect better data and provide a path for reporting profiling complaints.
HB 2001 — HB 2001 requires law enforcement agencies to collect data on profiling and adopt procedures for accepting complaints about law enforcement officers who engagein profiling. The bill also directs law enforcement agencies to investigate profiling complaints and submit copies of complaints to Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.
HB 2002 — HB 2002 requires the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to establish independent procedures for receiving and recording profiling complaints. The bill also gives the Criminal Justice Department within the Department of Justice the authority to collect profiling complaints against law enforcement and publish reports on their findings.
The Attorney General may give notice to the violating law enforcement agency and investigate if they think an agency or individual has a systemic issue.
HB 2003 — HB 2003 defines profiling and clearly bans law enforcement from using profiling as a tactic in Oregon. The bill prohibits law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers from profiling people by solely using someone’s race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, national origin, language, housing status, sexual orientation or gender/gender identity as a basis to stop, question, or search them.
More information on the effort to end profiling in Oregon is available online: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pzturmu1k97f541/EndProfiling_OnePager.pdf?dl=0
If you have questions about the legislation, please contact Salome Chimuku with the Center for Intercultural Organizing at (503) 754-0413 or Mary Beth Williams with the office of Rep. Peter Buckley at (207) 318-3224.