FBI Director Announces Plans to Collect Data on Police Use of Force
Nov 17, 2015
St. Peters, MO, (Law Firm Newswire) November 17, 2015 – The FBI will begin collecting and making public more information about police shootings involving civilians, according to FBI Director James Comey. The agency released its annual data on crime in the United States on Sept. 28.
Once the FBI gathers the data, it will release a special report on police use of force in the line of duty, which has been the subject of public debate. According to Comey, the publication will “outline facts about what happened, who was involved, the nature of injuries or deaths, and the circumstances behind these incidents.” He has previously expressed frustration about the lack of nationwide data on police shootings after the Ferguson, Missouri, shooting of Michael Brown in August last year.
“Addressing the lack of information is an important step in determining the scope of police shootings in the country. Analyzing the data will help promote transparency regarding the way law enforcement personnel interact with the communities they serve,” said Charles James, a prominent criminal defense attorney in St. Peters, Missouri.
Comey encouraged every police department to submit its crime statistics to the National Incident-Based Reporting System to give the public a more complete picture about the circumstances surrounding a crime. Since it is not mandatory for law enforcement agencies to enter data into the FBI’s system, current records remain incomplete. Only about one third of local departments are using the database.
The latest figures from the FBI’s annual report show a 0.2 percent decrease in the number of violent crimes reported by law enforcement last year in comparison to 2013. Around 1.16 million violent crimes such as robberies, rapes and murders were reported in 2013 in comparison to 1.39 million in 2005.
“After seeing a decline in crime rates over the years, this year we are seeing an increase in murders and shootings in some big cities and major metropolitan areas. This raises questions about what is causing the shift in crime rates and what are the circumstances of the fatalities,” said James.
Learn more at http://www.jameslawgroup.net/.
James Law Group, LLC
14 Richmond Center Court
St. Peters, MO 63376
Phone: 636.397.2411
Toll Free: 800.229.7112
- Sponsorship of Columbia Youth Basketball
We are proud to announce that James Law Group, LLC has become a sponsor for the Columbia Youth Basketball Association. The Columbia Youth Basketball Association is celebrating its 22nd season in recreational youth basketball. CYBA strives to provide a resource for Columbia and Boone County children to play basketball regardless of financial means in an […] - Columbia Office
James Law Group is proud to announce the opening of our second location in Columbia, Missouri. With offices in St. Peters and Columbia, we look forward to being able to better serve our clients’ legal needs throughout eastern and central Missouri. Columbia Office has a location that is easy to find. We are on Stadium […] - Case before Supreme Court
Firm partner, John James, to argue a case before the Missouri Supreme Court in April, 2015 regarding a police officer’s immunity from a law suit under State and Federal law. Plaintiff has alleged that the police officer provided false and misleading information to the prosecutor and the court, which resulted in her arrest and prosecution. - Missouri bans deadly highway guardrail
The Missouri Department of Transportation has banned a type of highway guardrail implicated in the deaths of at least 14 motorists, including one Missouri man. Missouri resident Brad Abeln was killed in January after another driver swerved and pushed him into the guardrail. According to whistleblowers, the faulty guardrail contains a steel bar that should […] - This Thanksgiving, stay safe on Black Wednesday
Most Americans know about Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving, when shoppers hit the malls and online stores to pick up huge savings on their Christmas shopping. Fewer Americans are aware of Black Wednesday — the day before Thanksgiving. The term originated in the hospitality industry in reference to the packed bars that characterize […]
