Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice.
News Spotlight: AB392 Police Deadly Force @18:14
A bill to raise standards for police use of deadly force has passed its first hurdle in the state legislature. The measure by democrat Shirley Weber would limit use of deadly force to situations where it’s necessary to defend against imminent threat of death or bodily injury. Police groups say the change could threaten police safety when they make split second decisions on whether to shoot a suspect.
After the police shooting of unarmed African American Stephon Clark in Sacramento last year, assembly member Shirley Weber of San Diego introduced a bill to limit police use of deadly force. It died in the legislature, but she’s back with a new version of the bill. She presented her AB392 in the assembly public safety committee.
Weber’s bill would bar police from using deadly force when there is an alternative… such as retreating, waiting, or negotiating. The measure is strongly opposed by many police groups. Shane Levine is with the fraternal order of police California lodge. He says the bill would create an untenable situation for police.
Supporters say the bill would not jeopardize police… but would rather give guidelines to prevent shootings that could be avoided. Sheryl Dorsey is a retired Los Angeles police department sergeant. She says her experience leads her to support the bill.
After testimony from witnesses, the committee opened the floor for public comment. More than 340 people lined up to support the measure… many of them relatives of people killed by police.
On the opposition side, about 15 people spoke, though several were lobbyists representing multiple of police organizations. In the end, the committee approved the bill on a vote of 5 to 2. AB 392 faces a tough road ahead, with police groups backing an alternative bill that would change police training while leaving use of force standards unchanged.
- Christopher Martínez, Capitol Correspondent
News Spotlight: Abolishing SF Juvenile Hall @22:25
Criminal Justice Reform Advocates are backing a proposal to close San Francisco Juvenile Hall. Youth crime rates in San Francisco have been reduced by some 87% for felonies since 1990. The San Francisco Juvenile Hall can house up to 132 youth, it has roughly 40 incarcerated kids currently. Advocates of the Bill attribute the drop on incarcerated youth to a push towards rehabilitation. Daniel Macallair from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice says it’s now time for more radical transformation of the punitive system of youth incarceration.
If the Bill passes, San Francisco Juvenile Hall would close by the end of 2021 replaced with community and rehabilitation programs. San Francisco Supervisors Hillary Ronen, Shamman Walton and Matt Haney authored the bill. Three other supervisors are cosponsoring it. That’s a majority, virtually assuring Supervisors will pass the measure. It’s unclear whether Mayor London Breed would sign it. She has set up a commission to study how to reform San Francisco’s juvenile justice system. Supporters of shutting down juvenile hall rallied on the steps of San Francisco city hall.
- Christina Aanested filed this report, KPFA News Reporter