Engagement on Human Rights Policy and Prohibition of Profiling Policy

Overview

The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is committed to community engagement on its Human Rights policy and Prohibition of Racial Profiling policy.

From November 15th 2021 until January 28th, 2022. CPD engaged with the community on its Human Rights policy and Prohibition of Racial Profiling policy. After the community engagement period concluded, CPD conducted an analysis of the feedback provided and use it to inform revisions on the policies. CPD anticipates publishing a draft of the updated policies when able and will invite the community to review the policies and provide additional feedback. Following any additional revisions, CPD anticipates implementing the updated policies by June 30th, 2022.

Following the implementation of the updated policy, CPD will release a public report detailing the engagement process, summary of community feedback provided and how it was used to inform policy revisions.
 

About the Policies

Background

In 2017, The United States Department of Justice concluded a yearlong civil rights investigation into the Chicago Police Department. The investigation revealed serious problems within the nation’s second-largest police department, including evidence of discriminatory policing.

This led a federal judge to authorize a consent decree, which was approved on January 31, 2019. Among the many requirements, the consent decree mandates that the Chicago Police Department:

  • Ensure that its policies and practices prohibit discrimination on the basis of any protected class under federal, state, and local law, including race, color, sex, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military status, source of income, credit history, criminal record, or criminal history.
  • Require that all CPD members interact with all members of the public in an unbiased, fair, and respectful manner.
  • Require that officers refrain from using language or taking action intended to taunt or denigrate an individual, including using racist or derogatory language.
  • Prohibit officers from using race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, homeless status, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, financial status, or lawful source of income when making routine or spontaneous law enforcement decisions, except when such information is part of a specific subject description.

Virtual Webinar

CPD held a live virtual webinar on Monday, November 15th to review its Human Rights policy and Prohibition of Racial Profiling policy and answer general questions from the public.