FAAR & Body Worn Camera Act

UNITED STATES SENATOR ANKIT JAIN CELEBRATES FAAR ACT

AND BODY WORN CAMERA ACT BECOMING LAW

(Washington, DC)—The 30-day congressional review period officially expired today for the Full Accountability in Arrest Reporting (FAAR) Temporary Act and the Body Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Temporary Act. Both landmark pieces of legislation are now the law in the District of Columbia. Any disapproval resolution passed regarding the laws will no longer have any legal effect.

The FAAR Act requires the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to document federal agents’ involvement in local arrests and report any use of force. The Body Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Act requires MPD to release its body-worn camera footage and federal officer information in cases involving federal officer-involved deaths or serious uses of force when MPD officers are present.

In response, United States Senator Ankit Jain issued the following statement: “DC enacted these laws to provide some basic transparency on the actions of out-of-control ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents in the District. Their official entry into law is a major victory for public safety and accountability in DC. I spoke with several congressional offices to make sure these bills were not disapproved, and I am proud to see our hard work pay off.”

The two laws are longer-term versions of existing emergency laws that are already in effect. They will remain in effect for the next 225 days. Republican members of Congress introduced disapproval resolutions in both the House and Senate against both bills, but the resolutions were not acted on prior to the deadline for them to have any legal effect.

Senator Jain added, “Even though their efforts failed, I do not want to forget that even after ICE’s horrific abuses of force in DC, Minneapolis, and around the country, several Republican members of Congress attempted to veto these laws in order to shield ICE and HSI from any transparency. Republicans are willing to let these agencies run roughshod over the rule of law. I will continue to fight back to protect the rights of all Washingtonians.”