Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The DHS Use of Force Oversight Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a department-wide policy governing how its law enforcement officers use force, with an emphasis on deescalation and minimizing injury. The policy mandates that officers use only reasonable force when necessary, attempt verbal warnings before using force, and are explicitly prohibited from using chokeholds and carotid restraints. All DHS law enforcement officers and agents must receive initial and ongoing training in deescalation tactics, and each DHS component must designate a use-of-force expert and establish a review council to analyze incidents and recommend policy improvements. The bill also requires the DHS to publish public reports every six months detailing all use-of-force incidents that resulted in injuries, deaths, or involved weapons and less-lethal devices, with data broken down by component and region; additionally, the DHS must brief Congress and the public within 24 hours of any incident resulting in hospitalization or death. The Inspector General will oversee compliance with the new policy on an ongoing basis, and no new funding or specific timelines for implementation are specified in the legislation.
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