WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation to ensure that grant programs monitored under the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) are appropriately managed and distributed. Specifically, the COPS Responsible Administration and Management Act would increase oversight of COPS grants and ensure that funds are invested in evidence-based programs that promote public safety.

Since 1994, the COPS Office has distributed more than $14 billion to more than 13,000 State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies. Congress has steadily increased funding for COPS Programs over the last several years. As the size and scope of the COPS Program expands, so does the workload of the COPS Office in the administration, oversight, and management  of its grants programs. Any additional funding to the COPS Program will also increase the need  for oversight of the police grant program to ensure that those funds support police training and practices that reduce negative interactions between police and communities and help improve community relationships. 

“We must ensure that the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has the resources to improve its oversight of grant-funded activities that enhance public safety and are not used for training or practices that are discriminatory, ineffective, or unconstitutional,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation will improve oversight and prevent taxpayer dollars, in this case, grant programs under COPS, from being misguided or improperly invested.”

Specifically, the COPS Responsible Administration and Management Act would do the following:

  • Direct the Office of Management and Budget conduct of review of the COPS grant program and make recommendations to enhance the administration, oversight, transparency and management of the grant program.
  • Develop performance metrics to assess the effectiveness.
  • Ensure compliance with civil rights laws for grant eligibility.
  • Require law enforcement agencies to have in place policies to reduce the dangerous use of chokeholds and no knock warrants and encourage reporting to the National Use-of-Force Data Collection of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  • Provide grants to law enforcement agencies for the cost of participation in the National Use-of-Force Data Collection of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

The full text of the legislation can be viewed here.