The new year ushered in sweeping new laws that seek to restrict the ability of law enforcement agencies to hide allegations or instances of police misconduct. Now, though, a Riverside judge has put the release of past records on hold.
A union representing sheriff’s deputies in Riverside County filed a motion to stop the release of all cases from before January 1, 2019. They want to know whether the new law was intended to have past records released along with ensuring that all new cases were brought to light. The union has also asked the court to delay the release of any new cases while this matter is being considered.
At JML Law, we knew that these new transparency laws would cause many people in the law enforcement community to be upset. All around the state, similar motions are being filed with the courts to undermine the new laws. If you need a Riverside police misconduct attorney, we are here to help. We want to make sure that no misconduct gets pushed under the rug.
What Is Going On
The new law, Senate Bill 1421:
- “Requires police department to make public internal investigation records regarding officers’ use of force, sexual assault and lying on reports.”
The union that has appealed the release of these records in Riverside argues that applying this law retroactively is wrong because many officers never appealed their cases because they believed they were protected under confidentiality agreements.
Here is our question – should these agreements have even existed in the first place?
When a citizen is alleged to have broken the law, their case is immediately brought out into the open, often complete with a mugshot on the nightly news. Is it fair that when law enforcement officers face allegations of misconduct that they do not receive similar treatment?
We realize that this may mean that many departments are disrupted in the short-term, but in the long run, the entire state will benefit. Corrupt police officers will be swept away and the new generation will know that they are being held to higher standards. There is no reason for their not to be transparency in police work. Anyone who thinks that police misconduct should be kept from the public is wrong.
What You Can Do Now
We applaud the new laws that have taken effect and we hope that these court cases are only a temporary setback. For far too long in this country, and in California in particular, have cases of police misconduct been ignored or hidden from the public’s eyes. At JML Law, our knowledgeable and experienced team is ready to help if you have been the victim of misconduct on the part of law enforcement. We will work tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve when you need a Riverside police misconduct attorney. You can contact us by clicking here or calling us at 818-610-8800 for a free consultation today.