In recent months, universities and colleges nationwide have announced their plans to address systemic racism and police brutality on campus. For instance, after the death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement, the University of Minnesota reduced ties with the Minneapolis Police Department and some other colleges are looking at similar changes.
The Center for American Progress recently published a brief with four recommendations on how higher education institutions can hold local and campus law enforcement accountable for violent actions.
“I think it’s really about interrogating what are the strategies, where are investments going and how are we intentional about ensuring that we are addressing racial equity gaps in doing that,” said Viviann Anguiano, author of the brief and associate director of postsecondary education at the center.
As the brief notes, Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than White people. Additionally, there are more than 4,000 campus police departments across the country that, together, employ a total of around 32,000 officers.
The center’s first recommendation is that college and universities change their contract terms with law enforcement to demand reform. For example, colleges could require local police departments to follow certain policies that restrict the types of force used during an encounter or arrest. Additionally, under new terms, universities could have police departments publicly release data on officer complaints.
Secondly, the center suggests that colleges limit ties or end contracts with police departments that do not agree to new contract terms. If contracts are canceled, institutions requiring security for larger events, for example, would have to hire an outside service to meet those designated standards.
“In cases where police departments aren’t willing to agree to terms, colleges have the accountability to get rid of those contracts,” said Anguiano.
