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The '''Birmingham Civilian Review Board''' is an appointed board, created by [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] [[Randall Woodfin]] in [[2021]] and given the authority to investigate complaints of misconduct by the [[Birmingham Police Department]].
The '''Birmingham Public Safety Advisory Committee''', formerly the '''Birmingham Civilian Review Board''' is an appointed board, created in [[2021]] by [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] [[Randall Woodfin]], which is charged with investigating complaints of misconduct by the [[Birmingham Police Department]].


==Background==
==Background==
Calls for citizen oversight of police misconduct have been raised several times.
{{Main|Birmingham Police Department#Police oversight}}
The murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May [[2020]] set off a [[2020 George Floyd protests|major wave of protests]], broader support for the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement, and a growing call for "defunding" police, or moving public resources away from armed responses to crime, and toward social and economic crime reduction programs.


While serving on the [[Birmingham City Council]], [[Richard Arrington]] pushed for a formal investigation of the shooting of an African-American suspect in police custody. The hearing was inconclusive, but opened the door to a more serious look at police procedures. The shooting death of [[Bonita Carter]] in [[1979]] highlighted mayor [[David Vann]]'s unwillingness to make serious changes, and opened the door for Arrington to become the city's first Black mayor. Among his efforts as mayor, Arrington expanded the role of community resource officers to reach out to neighborhoods, and hired [[Arthur Deutsch]], a veteran of the New York Police Department, to modernize the city's crime-fighting apparatus.
==Birmingham Public Safety Task Force==
In Birmingham, mayor Woodfin and chief [[Patrick Smith]] promised to review department policies, specifically with regard to Campaign Zero's "[https://8cantwait.org/ #8CANTWAIT]" recommendations for reducing direct harm caused by police. On [[July 14]] Woodfin immediately adopted a ban on chokeholds and a requirement that other officers intervene and report incidents of excessive violence. Other policy changes were recommended for further evaluation by a '''Birmingham Public Safety Task Force''' which was created for the purpose.


Several incidents contributed to renewed calls for civilian oversight of the department in the Spring of [[2011]]. [[Birmingham City Council District 6|District 6]] representative [[Carole Smitherman]] suggested that the [[Birmingham City Council]] hold hearings with the goal of establishing a police oversight committee. Activist [[Frank Matthews]] and [[Anthony Johnson]] of the [[Birmingham NAACP]] also called for such a committee. Council president [[Roderick Royal]] argued that no steps should be taken without consulting with the department first. Chief [[A. C. Roper]] did not support creating an oversight board, but instead favored better public relations efforts from within the department, starting with a commitment to professionalism in every interaction.
Their recommendations, published in December 2020, included creating a Citizens' Review Board, expanding the role of social workers in domestic violence calls, making police procedures more transparent, and holding quarterly roundtables with advocacy groups.


Nationwide protests following the death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida; Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York; and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri fueled the emergence of a [[Black Lives Matter]] movement. The murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May [[2020]] set off a [[2020 George Floyd protests|major wave of protests]] and a growing call for "defunding" police, or moving public resources away from armed responses to crime, and toward social and economic crime reduction programs.
==Birmingham Civilian Review Board==
Woodfin announced the creation of a Civilian Review Board on [[April 19]], [[2021]], the first such board to be established in any Alabama city.


In Birmingham, mayor Woodfin and chief [[Patrick Smith]] promised to review department policies, specifically with regard to Campaign Zero's "[https://8cantwait.org/ #8CANTWAIT]" recommendations for reducing direct harm caused by police. On [[July 14]] Woodfin immediately adopted a ban on chokeholds and a requirement that other officers intervene and report incidents of excessive violence. Other policy changes were recommended for further evaluation by a [[Birmingham Public Safety Task Force]] which was created for the purpose. Their recommendations, published in December 2020, included creating a Citizens' Review Board, expanding the role of social workers in domestic violence calls, making police procedures more transparent, and holding quarterly roundtables with advocacy groups.
Woodfin appointed [[Victor Revill]], [[Joyce Vance]], [[Annetta Nunn]], [[Lawrence Conaway]], and [[T. Marie King]] as the board's inaugural members. They began meeting in July to hold "listening sessions" and to evaluate similar programs in Durham, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and St Louis, Missouri. Vance was elected to serve as chair.


==Implementation==
The board was empowered to investigate complaints of misconduct submitted by residents, with limited subpoena power under Alabama law. A citizen's complaint made to the [[Birmingham Office of Peace & Policy]] would open a 30-day review period, during which staff from that office could assist in gathering information. At the end of the review, the board would publicize its findings in a public hearing, and submit a report with recommended actions to the chief of police. Recommendations could take the form of disciplinary actions against officers implicated in misconduct, or they could relate to department policies and practices in a more general sense. The department was not obligated to implement the recommendations of the Civilian Review Board.
Woodfin announced the creation of a Civilian Review Board on [[April 19]], [[2021]], along with the inaugural members: [[Victor Revill]], [[Joyce Vance]], [[Annetta Nunn]], [[Lawrence Conaway]], and [[T. Marie King]]. The board was expected to begin its work in July.


The board is empowered to investigate complaints of misconduct submitted by residents, with limited subpoena power under Alabama law. A complaint opens a 20-day review period, after which the board will submit a report with recommended actions to the chief of police.  
Incidents relating to matters already under active investigation by the [[Birmingham Police Department]]'s Internal Affairs Division, the [[Birmingham Department of Human Resources]], the [[Jefferson County District Attorney]], the [[Jefferson County Personnel Board]], or the [[Alabama Law Enforcement Agency]] (which investigates all police-involved shootings) would not be subject to the board's jurisdiction.


Incidents relating to matters already under investigation by the [[Birmingham Police Department]]'s Internal Affairs Division, the [[Jefferson County District Attorney]], or the [[Jefferson County Personnel Board]] are not under the board's jurisdiction.
On [[July 20]], 2021 Woodfin announced further changes to police policies, disallowing most "no-knock" warrants in which officers could enter a premises without announcing themselves. The policy establishes a risk-assessment and debriefing to accompany each warrant served.
 
By April [[2022]], however, the board had held no public hearings and issued no findings. Vance had stepped down and a successor had not been appointed to chair meetings. In the wake of three [[List of fatal police encounters|police-involved deaths]] between May 2021 and January 2022, activist [[Eric Hall]] attempted to contact board members to comment on the process to no avail. The Review Board's website instructs those wishing to file a complaint to download and fill out a printed form and return it by mail to the Office of Peace & Policy.
 
==Birmingham Public Safety Advisory Committee==
In September [[2023]] Woodfin announced the creation of a new '''Birmingham Public Safety Advisory Committee''', the aims and scope of which. as well as the membership of which, were largely similar to the lapsed Civilian Review Board.
 
Instead of reporting findings to the Chief of Police, the Advisory Committee would report to the Mayor.


==References==
==References==
Line 26: Line 35:
* Robinson, Carol (December 10, 2020) "Randall Woodfin: No defunding Birmingham police but more accountability, training coming." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Carol (December 10, 2020) "Randall Woodfin: No defunding Birmingham police but more accountability, training coming." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Carol (April 19, 2021) "Birmingham mayor announces Civilian Review Board to investigate complaints of police misconduct." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Carol (April 19, 2021) "Birmingham mayor announces Civilian Review Board to investigate complaints of police misconduct." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Carol (April 21, 2021) "Birmingham’s police Civilian Review Board: What it will and won’t do." {{BN}}
* "Birmingham Police Revise Policies to Disallow No-Knock Warrants." (July 20, 2021) ''[[BirminghamWatch]]''
* Short, Cody (April 19, 2022) "[https://birminghamwatch.org/one-year-later-where-is-the-birmingham-civilian-review-board/ One Year Later, Where Is the Birmingham Civilian Review Board?]" ''[[BirminghamWatch]]''
* Martin, Virginia (September 23, 20223) "[https://birminghamwatch.org/birmingham-sets-up-new-police-advisory-committee/ Birmingham Sets Up New Police Advisory Committee]." ''[[BirminghamWatch]]''
==External links==
* [https://birminghamcrb.org/ Birmingham Civilian Review Board] website
* [https://birminghampsac.org/ Birmingham Public Safety Advisory Committee] website


[[Category:Birmingham Police Department|Civilian Review Board]]
[[Category:Birmingham Police Department|Public Safety Advisory Committee]]
[[Category:2021 establishments]]
[[Category:2021 establishments]]
[[Category:2023 establishments]]

Latest revision as of 17:05, 22 September 2023

The Birmingham Public Safety Advisory Committee, formerly the Birmingham Civilian Review Board is an appointed board, created in 2021 by Mayor Randall Woodfin, which is charged with investigating complaints of misconduct by the Birmingham Police Department.

Background

Main article: Birmingham Police Department#Police oversight

The murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 2020 set off a major wave of protests, broader support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and a growing call for "defunding" police, or moving public resources away from armed responses to crime, and toward social and economic crime reduction programs.

Birmingham Public Safety Task Force

In Birmingham, mayor Woodfin and chief Patrick Smith promised to review department policies, specifically with regard to Campaign Zero's "#8CANTWAIT" recommendations for reducing direct harm caused by police. On July 14 Woodfin immediately adopted a ban on chokeholds and a requirement that other officers intervene and report incidents of excessive violence. Other policy changes were recommended for further evaluation by a Birmingham Public Safety Task Force which was created for the purpose.

Their recommendations, published in December 2020, included creating a Citizens' Review Board, expanding the role of social workers in domestic violence calls, making police procedures more transparent, and holding quarterly roundtables with advocacy groups.

Birmingham Civilian Review Board

Woodfin announced the creation of a Civilian Review Board on April 19, 2021, the first such board to be established in any Alabama city.

Woodfin appointed Victor Revill, Joyce Vance, Annetta Nunn, Lawrence Conaway, and T. Marie King as the board's inaugural members. They began meeting in July to hold "listening sessions" and to evaluate similar programs in Durham, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and St Louis, Missouri. Vance was elected to serve as chair.

The board was empowered to investigate complaints of misconduct submitted by residents, with limited subpoena power under Alabama law. A citizen's complaint made to the Birmingham Office of Peace & Policy would open a 30-day review period, during which staff from that office could assist in gathering information. At the end of the review, the board would publicize its findings in a public hearing, and submit a report with recommended actions to the chief of police. Recommendations could take the form of disciplinary actions against officers implicated in misconduct, or they could relate to department policies and practices in a more general sense. The department was not obligated to implement the recommendations of the Civilian Review Board.

Incidents relating to matters already under active investigation by the Birmingham Police Department's Internal Affairs Division, the Birmingham Department of Human Resources, the Jefferson County District Attorney, the Jefferson County Personnel Board, or the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (which investigates all police-involved shootings) would not be subject to the board's jurisdiction.

On July 20, 2021 Woodfin announced further changes to police policies, disallowing most "no-knock" warrants in which officers could enter a premises without announcing themselves. The policy establishes a risk-assessment and debriefing to accompany each warrant served.

By April 2022, however, the board had held no public hearings and issued no findings. Vance had stepped down and a successor had not been appointed to chair meetings. In the wake of three police-involved deaths between May 2021 and January 2022, activist Eric Hall attempted to contact board members to comment on the process to no avail. The Review Board's website instructs those wishing to file a complaint to download and fill out a printed form and return it by mail to the Office of Peace & Policy.

Birmingham Public Safety Advisory Committee

In September 2023 Woodfin announced the creation of a new Birmingham Public Safety Advisory Committee, the aims and scope of which. as well as the membership of which, were largely similar to the lapsed Civilian Review Board.

Instead of reporting findings to the Chief of Police, the Advisory Committee would report to the Mayor.

References

External links

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