The nature of our profession requires that we continually adjust to a vast array of new and ever-changing challenges as we strive to fulfill our mission of protecting the people we serve.

Today, unlike ever before, law enforcement confronts myriad threats, challenges, and opportunities that were simply unimaginable even a few years ago. These challenges often extend outside of the realm of normal law enforcement functions and go beyond the services we were trained for or have the capabilities to confront. For example, our officers are asked to respond to persons affected by mental illness or substance abuse disorders on a daily basis. Our mental health facilities are overwhelmed and crowded, leaving the police to act as mental health respondents.

A central, comprehensive plan to guide our criminal justice endeavors—extending beyond just law enforcement to include the courts, community, corrections, victims’ rights, national security, and faith-based and social services—is long overdue and an extremely important element of our effort to adjust to the new and growing realities of crime.

That is why, for over two decades, the IACP has advocated for the creation of a Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice (National Commission). The National Commission, established by an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald J. Trump at the 2019 IACP Annual Conference and Exposition, will create the much-needed blueprint the IACP has been advocating for. This historic commission was created thanks to close collaboration between the White House, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr, and the IACP and should inspire hope for meaningful criminal justice reform and advancements in the policing profession.

The National Commission is currently conducting a system-wide, comprehensive review of the criminal justice system, identifying gaps, needs, and opportunities and developing a strategic plan that will guide federal, state, local, and tribal efforts for the next 25–30 years. The first meeting of the National Commission occurred at the IACP Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium on February 27, 2020, in Miami, Florida, and focused on the topic of officer health and safety.

The commissioners will hold several more meetings and hearings and conduct numerous site visits before they submit a final report to the attorney general in October 2020. While the work has only just begun, we need to support these efforts and speak of the value of the work the National Commission is undertaking to our colleagues, elected officials, community members, and media. To aid you in your discussions, I’ve captured some key points that I hope you will find useful.

Why did the IACP advocate for the National Commission?

The last National Commission, created by U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, produced landmark changes for the criminal justice system and put in place many lasting measures that fundamentally changed the way law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system operate.

A few highlights from the Johnson Commission and its more than 200 recommendations include

• the creation of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ)/Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)/Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA);
• the creation of the 911 system;
• the development of the automated fingerprint identification systems;
• the creation of the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC);
• the foundation for a community policing–based approach to crime;
• improved training and technical assistance standards for law enforcement; and
• overall professionalization of law enforcement.

Much has changed in the criminal justice world in the over 50 years since the Johnson Commission, and we are facing several important issues and challenges that made the executive order to create the National Commission so very important.

Why do we need a commission?

Although we can identify many of the challenges that are confronting the criminal justice system, identifying effective solutions is not always easy. The National Commission will have the opportunity to examine our entire criminal justice system and its many pieces, including policing, courts, community, corrections, victims’ rights, national security, and the intersection of criminal justice with faith-based and social services. This goes far beyond past efforts that focused solely on law enforcement.

What are some of the issues the National Commission may examine?

There will be 15 working groups, each assigned to a different topic in the criminal justice field. Those working groups are

• Business and Community Development
• Criminal Justice System Personnel Intersection
• Data and Reporting
• Grant Programs
• Homeland Security
• Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Crime
• Law Enforcement Recruitment and Training
• Officer Health and Safety
• Reduction of Crime
• Reentry Programs and Initiatives
• Respect for Law Enforcement
• Rural and Tribal Law Enforcement
• Social Problems Impacting Public Safety
• Technology
• Victim Services

Whom will the National Commission be working with?

The commission will hear from voices and consult perspectives outside of law enforcement via its working groups. Civil rights organizations, civic leaders, defense bar associations, academics, victims’ rights organizations, the medical community, and community organizations should and will help with this important mission. This collaboration will occur in a variety of ways. Through site visits, field hearings, panel presentations, and other public meetings, the commissioners and working group members will receive valuable insights, counsel, and recommendations from a diverse range of voices, making this a truly comprehensive effort.

What is the difference between the National Commission and the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, which was just five years ago? Why is this one needed?

The number one overarching recommendation from U.S. President Barack Obama’s 21st Century Task Force on Policing in 2015 was for “the creation of a National Crime and Justice Task Force to review and evaluate all components of the criminal justice system for the purpose of making recommendations to the country on comprehensive criminal justice reform.” At the conclusion of the task force, President Obama and the task force members realized that law enforcement was just one aspect of the criminal justice system, and there was so much more that needed to be discussed and examined. While the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing was charged only with focusing on policing, the National Commission will examine all aspects of the criminal justice system and how they interact. The National Commission and its recommendations, drawn from the insight of diverse subject matter experts and stakeholders, will bring about innovative and lasting change that goes beyond policing, similar to the effects of the 1965 Johnson Commission. The U.S. attorney general challenged the commissioners at their swearing-in to think boldly, explore new ideas, consider diverse opinions and approaches, and plan for our future. The work of the National Commission is about setting a course for U.S. policing and the administration of justice for the next 25–30 years.

This commission represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop and implement a strategic blueprint for criminal justice that will guide efforts to protect our communities for years to come. Implementation of the commission’s recommendations will require action on the part of the U.S. Congress or other governing bodies. That is why I urge you to follow the National Commission’s proceedings closely and to encourage your community leaders to do the same. When the time comes to advocate for implementation of the commission’s recommendations, we, as a profession, must be positioned to do so.🛡