The Preamble of the Constitution says that we the people created the United States of America in part to establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility. At least four of the ten articles in the Bill of Rights specifically limit the power of the government in policing and administration of justice.
The Fourth Amendment's protection of the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures is at the heart of law enforcement activity. In my opinion, any seizure of a person that results in that person's serious injury or death at the hands of police is unreasonable, except in the most extreme circumstances.
That is why, in my opinion, we need strict Federal use of force standards for police and the end of qualified immunity. We need to move investigation and prosecution of alleged police misconduct, including the death of any person in police custody, out of the hands of local investigators and prosecutors. We need to end cash bail, as in my opinion cash bail violates the Eighth Amendment.
The Congress must act now to impose far-reaching, aggressive controls on policing and the operation of our criminal justice system in order to secure the rights of the people.
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