In November 2023, the DOJ Settlement Agreement underwent a significant change with the amendment of Section 12 that included the adoption of an Independent Monitor model, the partial termination of a number of paragraphs and the designation of other paragraphs as qualifying for Self-Monitoring status.
The results of these revisions were that the Monitor replaced both the DOJ and the COCL as the entity responsible for assessing the City’s compliance with the remaining terms of the Agreement. The DOJ remained as the plaintiff in the case but no longer was responsible for reporting on compliance to the Court. Further, based on the City’s long-standing (since at least 2019) substantial compliance with many of the existing paragraphs, 41 of those were deemed terminated. That meant that those were no longer subject to enforcement, monitoring, or self-monitoring and those requirements are no longer part of the Agreement.
More relevant to this section of the website, another 15 paragraphs gained Self-Monitoring status which meant that the City would be responsible for assessing its own compliance with those requirements. The City had to create a self-monitoring plan for each paragraph in consultation with the Monitor. Each plan had assessments to evidence continued substantial compliance. The documents listed below are the “scorecards” the City developed for each paragraph but grouped in sections. The Monitor then evaluates that information at the end of the reporting period to determine if the City has maintained substantial compliance. If the City does so for two consecutive Monitor reports, then the section will be subject to termination.
Read:
Portland Police Bureau Semi-Annual Compliance Update