Index
Maryland Repeal of Police Bill of Rights
Summary
Maryland was the first state in the U.S. to completely repeal its 'Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights' (LEOBR), stripping away special legal protections that made it difficult to investigate or fire abusive police officers.
Rights & Rules
- 01.The repealed LEOBR previously gave police officers special privileges not afforded to regular citizens, like a mandatory waiting period (up to 5 days) before they could be interrogated after shooting someone.
- 02.Police misconduct investigations are no longer handled exclusively by internal police affairs; the new law mandates that civilian-led Police Accountability Boards be created in every county.
- 03.These civilian boards now have the power to receive complaints, review investigations, and recommend specific disciplinary actions against officers.
- 04.Records of police misconduct involving the discharge of a firearm or use of force resulting in injury are now accessible to the public.
Penalties
- 01.Officers accused of misconduct are now subject to a standardized state disciplinary matrix rather than internal departmental arbitration, making it much easier for police chiefs to fire bad officers.
Verified Citations
Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021
Source"(The Act repealed Title 3, Subtitle 1 of the Public Safety Article, widely known as the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, and established new civilian oversight mechanisms in its place.)"