Dismantling the Blue Wall of Silence: Why Every Defender Should Track Law Enforcement Misconduct

For decades, law enforcement misconduct has been shrouded in secrecy, hidden behind a “blue wall of silence.” Until independent projects cropped up in 2012, even simple statistics were unknown. From 2020-2023, NACDL’s Full Disclosure Project helped defenders build databases tracking misconduct on over 150,000 law enforcement officers. This report examines how defense lawyers have pioneered the movement to track police misconduct, the impact of their work, and recommendations for other defenders looking to join the movement. [Released September 2023]

 

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Report cover Dismantling the Blue Wall of Silence: Why Every Defender Should Track Law Enforcement Misconduct Read Obtaining, Organizing, and Opening Police Misconduct Data, a report following a November 2021 convening.

Learn about the Full Disclosure Project

 

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