Police Accountability Committee (PAC)
Police Accountability Committees (PACs) will advise departments on policies, training, and other things affecting the department and the communities it serves. POST hopes that PACs will bring more openness, information sharing, education, and community engagement. All police departments in Delaware shall set up police accountability committees or boards (PACs). However, HB 206 does not empower PACs to decide on department discipline or establish department policies or procedures.
PAC Composition and Minimum Meetings
HB 206 does not specify a minimum number of committee members. However, for an effective PAC, POST recommends having at least five members, and possibly 9-13 for larger departments. It's best to have an odd number of members to avoid tie votes.
HB 206 mandates including a religious leader from the community and individuals directly impacted by the criminal justice system or their family members in the PAC. Additionally, POST suggests having a diverse membership that represents various aspects of the community, such as race, gender, age, education, experience, business owners, student leaders, those with a background in criminal justice, and at-risk populations.
POST plans to require PACs to meet quarterly or more frequently if necessary.
Member Training
"Non-police members" must complete 20 hours of community training within a year of joining the police department. This training can involve activities like ride-alongs, attending a citizen's police academy, and taking useful courses. The goal is to give non-law enforcement individuals a better understanding of how the police work, which will help them provide better advice to police leaders. This training will also improve communication with the public.
Joint PACs
HB 206 allows police departments to create a PAC on their own or together with other departments, like a regional police accountability committee. POST suggests that smaller departments connect with nearby jurisdictions to think about creating shared PACs to give guidance to multiple departments.
