In Fort Worth on November 10, an event was held for the first ever U.S. conference on the use of federal consent decrees to implement police reform. Members from U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, federal judges and monitors, and police chiefs from major cities exchanged ideas on what would be considered the best practices and lessons that have been learned.

The use that the consent decrees has is the result of 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, this is what allows the U.S. Department of Justice to open investigations into local and state policing agencies of civil rights violations.

“Last week’s inaugural conference marks the first time in U.S. history that such a vast number of key players involved with police reform have come together to share lessons learned,” explained Dr. Alex del Carmen, executive director of Tarleton State University criminology school and a former federal monitor. “Tarleton’s School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Strategic Studies and the Texas A&M University School of Law literally made history, and there is no doubt that outcomes from the conference will have a lasting impact on police reform.”

Del Carmen worked with Dr. Andrew Morriss, dean of the Texas A&M University School of Law, and U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan—Eastern District of Louisiana—to bring the conference to Fort Worth. “It was heartening to see that everyone was focused on not just achieving reform but maintaining it long after the Department of Justice and the federal courts complete their work,” she added. “My thanks to Tarleton and A&M for providing this forum.” (Theflashtoday.com)

Applauding the vision of Tarleton’s criminology school and the A&M law school, U.S. District Court Judge Gustavo Gelpi—District of Puerto Rico—said, “This historic first gathering of all those involved in the police reform process constituted an important exchange of ideas and best practices, which ultimately will benefit our nation’s citizens and those sworn to protect them and uphold the law.” (Theflashtoday.com)