The Policing Project’s new guidance provides an overview of how to police demonstrations to protect public safety and democratic freedoms. Drawn largely from what policing leaders themselves have identified as best practices as well as evidence-based research, we outline a clear approach that emphasizes transparent communication, de-escalation, and a healthy relationship between police and the communities they serve.

The Policing Project has released suite of resources outlining concrete steps policing agencies, elected officials, and communities can take to improve policing transparency and accountability. These materials provide clear and reasonable guidance on three critical areas: accessibility of agency policy manuals, community oversight, and agency transparency.

Since the police killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 and subsequent protests across the country, many elected officials at all levels of government have promised to enact legislation aimed at making systemic changes to policing in the U.S. But what actions have legislators taken since?

The Policing Project submitted an amicus brief in support of certiorari asking the United States Supreme Court to overturn a decision of the Nebraska Supreme Court that permitted a police stop of a vehicle, in the absence of reasonable suspicion, on the grounds that the stop was merely information-seeking.

Today, the Camden County Police Department announced adoption of its innovative, revised use of force policy drafted with the help of the Policing Project. The new policy — vetted and revised with the ACLU of New Jersey — is one of the most progressive use of force policies in the nation.