Georgia Rep. Sandra Scott Introduces Criminal Justice Reform Package to Address Constituents’ Concerns

State Representative Sandra Scott (D-Rex) recently reintroduced her criminal justice reform legislative package during the 2023 legislative session. Rep. Scott first introduced these measures during the 2021 legislative session.

“In the wake of the killing of Tyre Nichols, Daunte Wright, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jabril Robinson, Deaundre Phillips and many more Black Americans, we need real criminal justice reform in Georgia,” said Rep. Scott. “We all know that something must be done, and we cannot continue on the path where Black lives do not matter to law enforcement. Police need to start treating unarmed Black residents like real human beings. For these reasons, I reintroduced meaningful legislation that would benefit the citizens of House District 76 and all of Georgia.”

House Bill 113 would require police departments to provide de-escalation training to law enforcement officers. House Bill 114 would authorize implicit bias training for law enforcement officers. House Bill 115 would prohibit racial profiling by law enforcement officers and agencies. House Bill 107 would require law enforcement agencies to provide body cameras to on-duty law enforcement officers.

“I am constantly having conversations with constituents about police accountability, racial profiling and ethical policing in Georgia,” added Rep. Scott. “I have also been working with Georgia NAACP president and attorney Gerald Griggs and Reps. Kim Schofield and Viola Davis to ensure citizens across Georgia know about this legislation. We hope this legislation can serve as a model for law enforcement to use across Georgia.”

Further, House Bill 112 would provide additional procedures and requirements for law enforcement officers and agencies in order to ensure “ethical policing” in Georgia and set new standards for policing in Georgia law. It would also authorize local municipalities to create and operate citizen review boards to ensure accountability for ethical police conduct, as well as direct the attorney general to create a form for local agencies to use to record complaints alleging police misconduct and disciplinary actions for such misconduct.

Rep. Scott plans to hold conversations with the public regarding her criminal justice reform bills in the future, and questions regarding the legislation may be directed to Rep. Scott’s Capitol office at 404-656-0314.

For more information on the aforementioned legislation, as well as the other bills introduced by Rep. Scott during the 2023 legislative session, please click here.

legis.ga.gov

Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves as the Minority Caucus Chief Deputy Whip. She also serves on the Banks & Banking, Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Insurance and Reapportionment and Redistricting committees.