Police Reform and Federal Consent Decrees, Dr. Zachary Powell, CSUSB

Join us for a presentation and discussion with Dr. Zachary Powell (link), Assistant Professor in CSUSB’s Criminal Justice Department.

Police reform has been, and will continue to be, an issue of grave importance in the United States. Each year, society learns of multiple instances of unconstitutional law enforcement practices that irreparably harm the lives of many people. Despite the clear need to reform law enforcement agencies in America, efforts to do so often fall short. However, the federal government possesses the power to force police departments to reform in certain situations. This power, mobilized through consent decrees, has received renewed attention and use under the Biden administration. This talk will provide an overview of the federal consent decree process and its impact on law enforcement today.

Series organizers: Dr. Mary Texeira (Sociology), Robie Madrigal (Pfau Library), Dr. Jeremy Murray (History), Stan Futch (President, WAG), and CSUSB students Marlo Brooks, Zoralynn Oglesby, Jade McDonald, Jaime Castro, Connie Cornejo, and Evelyn Jimenez. Click here to view previous panels in the Conversations on Race and Policing series.