ACLU Submission to the UN on the Lack of Data Collection on Policing in the US

This ACLU submission to the UN International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement focuses on lack of comprehensive data collection on policing in the United States. The submission provides a review of federal and state examples demonstrating the lack of adequate and reliable data collection systems. Data collection systems must be enacted as fundamental safeguards against unchecked and abusive police institutions, which have gained enormous power and resources without adequate transparency or oversight. The burden should not fall on victims, impacted communities, or civil society groups, including media outlets, to document and collect data on policing practices and abuses. Though abusive policing will not be cured if the United States had more comprehensive data collection, such data would provide greater transparency to the public and accountability for law enforcement agencies.