The Biden-Harris administration has released a new analysis of the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), a crucial tool for documenting federal police misconduct and enhancing public trust. NLEAD, created under President Biden’s Executive Order 14074, allows federal agencies to access records of documented misconduct, improving decision-making in hiring, promotions, and assignments.
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NLEAD’s Impact on Federal Law Enforcement
The latest analysis reveals that all 90 federal agencies with law enforcement officers are participating in NLEAD. This comprehensive database now covers over 4,300 officers involved in more than 5,300 misconduct incidents reported over the last seven years. With over 150,000 federal officers currently serving, officials say NLEAD has been pivotal in conducting thousands of background checks this year. These checks have led to adverse employment outcomes, preventing officers with histories of misconduct from being placed in positions that could compromise public trust.
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Extending Transparency to State and Local Agencies
While the NLEAD is a federal initiative, the administration is working to promote transparency at the state and local levels. Most policing occurs at the community level, so President Biden and Vice President Harris have urged Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This act aims to bring comprehensive reform nationwide. Meanwhile, the administration supports the National De-Certification Index (NDI), a registry for state and local police misconduct records in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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DOJ Grants Support NDI Adoption
To encourage NDI adoption, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has allocated $471 million in discretionary grants prioritizing agencies using the NDI. Additionally, the DOJ offers accreditation funding to agencies meeting federal standards, including mandatory NDI checks for officer background investigations. The DOJ has also provided $3 million to expand the NDI, aligning it with NLEAD’s standards. Since May 2023, the NDI has seen a 75% increase in registered users, an 85% rise in records, and an 85% jump in query volume.
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Setting a Precedent for Accountability
President Biden emphasized that the NLEAD sets a new standard for accountability. “Transparency and accountability are fundamental to public trust,” Biden said, affirming that the federal government is committed to safer, more trustworthy communities nationwide.