The Under Color of Law Accountability Act creates new federal criminal penalties for police officers and government officials who abuse their authority. The bill establishes four main crimes: using excessive force (punishable by up to 10 years in prison, or 30 years if death results), stealing money or property while on duty (up to 10 years depending on the value), obstructing justice by destroying evidence or interfering with recordings (up to 20 years, or 30 if death results), and failing to intervene when witnessing excessive force by a colleague. The bill also creates a "duty to intervene" requirement, making officers criminally liable if they witness excessive force and do nothing to stop it. Prosecutions must be brought within 7 years of the offense, except for cases involving death, which have no time limit. The legislation affects all federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement officers and government officials, though it includes exceptions for legitimate law enforcement activities like evidence collection and allows officers to restrict recording of sensitive operations.
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