PAC - August 2022 Summary

News Article
PAC August 2022 Summary
Published

September 2022
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Dear Portlanders,
The Police Accountability Commission continued its Fact-Finding Phase of work in August, the second phase in the PAC's process of replacing Portland's police accountability system. This included key stakeholder briefings and sub-committee work to find areas of agreement on the strengths and weaknesses of the current system in Portland and other jurisdictions, as well as proposals from subject matter experts. Community engagement event planning continued during August as well. 
 
You can learn more about the Police Accountability Commission at www.portland.gov/police-accountability.

August Summary
Over the month of August, the PAC and its sub-committees met a total of eight times. The Sub-Committee on Community Engagement met once, developing understandings of what support can be given from the PAC and City to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) partnering with the PAC. These partnerships will create Town Halls in which the CBOs' members and networks will be able to provide input into the PAC's discussions. Members of the public may also give public comment prior to, or directly at, PAC meetings
 
The Sub-Committee on Research held four public meetings. Members presented research on other jurisdictions and on proposals from subject matter experts, many of which were collated into a spreadsheet and posted on the Sub-Committee on Research Resources page (which also includes the sub-committee's draft documents). Later in August, the sub-committee began to create draft documents (the Draft Areas of Agreement on Best Practices, and Practices to Avoid, from Other Jurisdictions; and the Draft Areas of Agreement on Proposals to Consider, and to Avoid, from Subject Matter Experts), which will be referred to the full commission for their approval in September. 
 
The full Police Accountability Commission met three times, hearing reports from both sub-committees and continuing the process of discussing and developing Draft Areas of Agreement on Barriers to Police Accountability, and Best Practices, in Portland. The commission also requested and received public comment, discussed matters outside of the PAC's direct scope but which may affect their work, and held an equity training.


September and Next Steps
The full commission is holding meetings in September towards its goal of concluding the Fact-Finding Phase. These meetings include hosting a briefing from the US Department of Justice, and discussions which are moving the commission towards approving Areas of Agreement on Barriers to Police Accountability and Best Practices in the current system. The full commission will also receive the referred documents from the Sub-Committee on Research and discuss, adapt, and approve them as part of concluding this Phase of Work, and begin preparations for the following phase of work (Powers and Duties). 
 
The Sub-Committee on Research is completing its discussions around draft Areas of Agreement on Best Practices, and Practices to Avoid from Other Jurisdictions, as well as draft Areas of Agreement on Proposals to Consider, or Avoid, from Subject Matter Experts. The sub-committee is finalizing and referring its draft documents to the full commission in late September or early October.
Specific meeting dates will be announced as they are scheduled via this email list and at the website:
Full Event Calendar

Get Involved!
The PAC website includes a page with more information on how to get involved in the commission's work, including how to watch meetings, give public comment during meetings, and give written public comment to the PAC as well. Written public comment is circulated to the commission in advance of each meeting.