NACOLE

The Rule of Law in a Time of Terror - David Nevin, Esq.

nacole — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 21:31:12 GMT

Keynote Luncheon: The Rule of Law in a Time of Terror David Nevin, Esq., Nevin Benjamin & McKay, LLP On February 26, 2003, Sami Omar Al-Hussayen was a 34-year old Saudi graduate student at the University of Idaho, a few months away from completing his Ph.D. and returning home to life as a university professor. On that day over 100 federal agents descended on the sleepy college town of Moscow, Idaho, arrested Sami at 4 a.m. in the presence of his terrified wife and 3 children, and then fanned out around the community interrogating Middle Eastern students, some of them for five to six hours. Sami was charged with multiple counts of Providing Material Support to Terrorism, and, in an 8-week trial in the spring of 2004, acquitted and freed – but not before spending 511 days in solitary confinement. Intended as a high water mark in the war on terrorism, Sami’s case is instead viewed as an example of government overreaching, and is frequently cited in Congressional debates on extension of the Patriot Act. In this address, Mr. Al-Hussayen’s lead counsel provides some insight into the surprising intensity of the government’s investigation and prosecution, and considers the value of citizen oversight of police behavior in this most volatile and politically charged area of law enforcement.

Investigating Yourself: A Tale of Woe

nacole — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 20:50:28 GMT

Featured Speaker: The Honorable B. Lynn Winmill, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Idaho: “Investigating Yourself, A Tale of Woe” The discipline of Federal Judges is done by Federal Judges. They investigate themselves. The Constitution requires this system to preserve the independence of the Federal Judiciary. Consequently, they face the serious problems accompanying any self-policing system. Judge Winmill presently sits on the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the main disciplinary body for Federal Judges in that Circuit. He comes to us, then, as a traveler returning from a broken land, with a cautionary tale about what happens in the absence of the type of independent oversight provided by NACOLE members.

Oversight Behind Bars: Bringing Meaningful Review to Jails & Prisons

nacole — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 12:15:19 GMT

Oversight Behind Bars: Bringing Meaningful Review to Jails & Prisons Civilian oversight of law enforcement poses special challenges in jail and prison settings – a literally “closed society” that is removed from public attention and subject to near-total police control. While addressing police misconduct is never easy, the custody arena magnifies these difficulties: the victims face inherent skepticism, the possibility of retaliation is obvious and chilling, and access for outsiders is hard to achieve. These realities speak directly to the importance of effective civilian oversight in the custody arena. However, and perhaps because of these same challenges, jails and prisons remain a branch of oversight where there is considerable room for growth. Panelists: Bob Barton: Bureau of Independent Review for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Bakersfield, California Stephen Connolly: Los Angeles County Office of Independent Review, Los Angeles, California Jody Kent: National Prison Project of the ACLU, Washington, DC Robert Miller: Los Angeles County of Independent Review, Los Angeles, California Moderator: Barbara Attard: San Jose Independent Police Auditor, NACOLE President

Basic Skills for Conducting & Reviewing Oversight Investigations

nacole — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 21:01:44 GMT

Training Session IV: Basic Skills for Conducting & Reviewing Oversight Investigations This introductory session in a series of three workshops will focus on the general skills needed by civilian oversight professionals. Drawing heavily on audience participation, it will identify: 1) The qualifications and attributes of successful civilian oversight investigators (both sworn and civilian), evaluators and auditors; 2) How to approach an investigation, including identifying relevant issues and creating an investigative plan; 3) How to properly document evidence; 4) Interviewing procedures and skills. We will utilize two case studies (in written format that participants can review overnight) that will also be the focus of the second and third sessions on Wednesday morning and afternoon. The session will feature extensive audience participation with a question and answer period. Presenters: Kesha Taylor, Assistant Chief Investigator, Office of Police Complaints, Washington, D.C. Jayson Wechter, Investigator, Office of Citizen Complaints, San Francisco, California Moderator: Robin Lolar, NACOLE Board Member

Dr. Lorie Fridell: Policing Racial Bias: What Jurisdictions Can Do to Promote Fair & Equitable Law Enforcement Practices

nacole — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:58:04 GMT

Dr. Lorie Fridell: Policing Racial Bias: What Jurisdictions Can Do to Promote Fair & Equitable Law Enforcement Practices In this session, Dr. Fridell will describe how agencies can and should respond to the critical issues of racially biased policing and the perceptions of its practice and how resident stakeholders can facilitate responsible police actions. She will describe a comprehensive police agency response that addresses racial bias in the realms of policy, supervision/accountability, education/training, recruitment/hiring, outreach to diverse communities and data collection. She will report on promising practices around the nation. Speaker: Lorie Fridell, PhD: Associate Professor, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida Moderator: Eduardo Diaz, PhD, Executive Director, Miami-Dade County Independent Review Panel, Miami, Florida

Police-Youth Relations NACOLE 2006

nacole — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:13:16 GMT

Police/Youth Relations: Effective Strategies to Bridge the Gap Civilian oversight agencies and boards have a responsibility to conduct community outreach activities and participate in efforts to resolve conflict, encourage open communication, and build trust between law enforcement agencies and the many diverse constituencies within their community. Flashpoints and conflict can be diverted or prevented when the police are encouraged to actively engage with disaffected populations, including youth. During this session, panelists will describe their efforts to open and maintain an on-going dialogue between the police and the youth of their communities. Panelists: Karen Barbee: Member, Boise Youth/Police Relations Committee, Boise, Idaho Kim Bogucki: Detective, Seattle Police Department, Seattle, Washington Matt McCarter: Coordinator, Youth Services, Department of Parks and Recreation, Boise, Idaho Moderator: Pierce Murphy, Community Ombudsman, Boise, Idaho

How to Make Policy Recommendations_NACOLE 2006

nacole — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:56:05 GMT

How to Make Policy Recommendations Using the insights of three oversight models in Los Angeles County, Washington, D.C. and San Diego, this session is intended to provide guidance for oversight agencies on how to make policy recommendations from beginning to end. This presentation will entail providing direction on what data to collect, how to critically review existing policies, where to turn for potential best practices, and how to write and ultimately recommend clear, effective proposals for police reform. In addition, the presentation will address what agencies of varying models, sizes and authority can do to ensure that their policy recommendations have the best chance of being adopted and sticking. Panelists: Merrick Bobb: President, Police Assessment Resource Center (PARC), Los Angeles, California Philip Eure: Executive Director, Office of Police Complaints, Washington, D.C. Scott Fulkerson: Executive Director, City of San Diego Citizens’ Review Board on Police Practices, San Diego, California Moderator: Thomas Sharp: Deputy Director, Office of Police Complaints, Washington, D.C.

David Harris: "The Place of Civilian Oversight in Preventive Policing

nacole — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 04:48:31 GMT

Session One—Plenary Training Session I: David Harris: “The Place of Civilian Oversight in Preventive Policing” This presentation will center on a concept in American law enforcement: preventive policing. As the twenty-first century begins, close observation of police departments across the U.S., in big cities and small towns and in every region, reveals a series of important changes. An increasing number of police departments are moving away from older methods of policing that emphasize reaction to problems and the demands of the 911 call and similar systems, and toward approaches that emphasize the prevention of crime. Using these new strategies, police departments have made dramatic strides against crime in their communities, and have done so in ways that have allowed them to enter into true partnerships with their citizens in the crime-fighting efforts. In other words, preventive policing has shown that communities need not trade their rights to respect, dignity, and lawful treatment for public safety; preventive policing can bring them both. This presentation will attempt to broaden the focus of civilian oversight practitioners and those who study civilian oversight by showing how oversight fits into the broader ideas of preventive policing. In particular, the session will show how the various oversight strategies in use today fit naturally with several other central concepts in preventive policing. In bringing these connections to light, the presentation will attempt to show how those practicing civilian oversight can and should become leaders toward a more general implementation of the crucial ideas of prevention. Presenter: David A. Harris: E.N. Balk Professor of Law and Values, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio