{"id":43058,"date":"2021-06-16T14:18:42","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T21:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=43058"},"modified":"2021-06-16T14:18:42","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T21:18:42","slug":"l-a-forms-an-independent-team-to-re-examine-fatal-use-of-force-incidents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=43058","title":{"rendered":"L.A. Forms an Independent Team to Re-Examine Fatal Use-of-Force Incidents"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gasc\u00f3n announced Wednesday the formation of an independent team that will re-examine fatal use-of-force incidents by law enforcement officers and recommend further action when appropriate.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cSignificant concerns have been raised by law enforcement officials, civil rights attorneys, activists, and others regarding the handling of numerous police use-of-force cases,\u201d said District Attorney Gasc\u00f3n. \u201cIn order to restore trust and move forward as a community, I am convening this group to thoroughly review the evidence and make recommendations on cases that we may need to examine more closely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Factual Analysis Citizen Consulting Team (FACCT) is a group comprised of community members, civil rights attorneys, scholars and constitutional police practices experts. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>They will identify and prioritize use-of-force cases to review, including those where there is contrary forensic evidence or witness testimony, evidence from a civil or criminal case or impeachment evidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once cases have been identified, FACCT will work with law students at the University of California, Irvine, who will review the case files and make presentations to FACCT members on their findings. <\/span><\/p>\n

The group also is assisted by students from the\u00a0Dornsife Trial Advocacy Program at the University of Southern California.<\/span><\/p>\n

FACCT, either as a group or as individual members, will not opine whether charges should be filed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, the team will present findings and additional evidence that may be contrary to the prior decision to decline to prosecute.<\/span><\/p>\n

The District Attorney\u2019s Office will make the final decision on whether additional investigation is necessary, the matter is assigned to a special prosecutor or criminal charges will be filed. <\/span><\/p>\n

There may be compelling or dispositive confidential or otherwise unavailable evidence that FACCT did not review<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUntil there is a standard that mandates a shooting is lawful when it is absolutely necessary and the last resort, we are going to continue to have unnecessary shootings that cause public outcry and skepticism,\u201d District Attorney Gasc\u00f3n said. \u201cWe eventually need to create legislation that gives the county the ability to create a separate entity that can independently review these cases.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

District Attorney Gasc\u00f3n first announced his intention to launch FACCT in a letter he sent to the county\u2019s police chiefs on the day of his inauguration. <\/span><\/p>\n

As the nation\u2019s first Chief of Police to be appointed as a District Attorney, he has taught use-of-force policies and made disciplinary decisions on officers who had inappropriately used force.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those who are part of FACCT are:<\/span><\/p>\n

Civil rights attorneys, scholars and activists:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n