NCJ Number
68884
Date Published
1979
Length
309 pages
Annotation
THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS, ESTABLISHED IN PART TO INVESTIGATE DISCRIMINATION OR DENIAL OF EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW, HELD HEARINGS IN PHILADELPHIA ON POLICE PRACTICES AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
Abstract
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PHILADELPHIA HEARINGS WERE (1) TO ASCERTAIN THE NATURE OF POLICE CONDUCT, (2) TO IDENTIFY FORMAL AND INFORMAL DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATING TO POLICE CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE, (3) TO IDENTIFY THE OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING AND RESOLVING ALLEGATIONS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT, AND (4) TO EVALUATE THE AVAILABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY. PERSONS SUBPOENAED WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT SPECIFIC DATA INDICATING POLICY, PROCEDURES, STATISTICS, AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATIVE TO POLICE STANDARDS, ACTUAL CONDUCT ACCOUNTABILITY, AND RESPONSIBILITY. TESTIMONY GIVEN WAS RELATED TO THE EXPLANATION OR CLARIFICATION OF SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS. THOSE TESTIFYING INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PHILADELPHIA CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING BUREAU, THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE FBI, AND PRESENT AND FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR. OTHERS TESTIFYING REPRESENTED THE METRO CHRISTIAN COUNCIL, THE CITIZEN'S CRIME COMMISSION, THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTER, AND THE GAY NEWS. TESTIMONY FROM PRIVATE CITIZENS IS ALSO INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)