H.R. 7310: Deadly Force Independent Review Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Deadly Force Independent Review Act of 2026, aims to establish new protocols for how federal law enforcement agencies investigate instances of deadly force used by their officers. Here are the key components:

Investigation Protocols

Each federal law enforcement agency will be required to create a detailed protocol for investigating any time one of its officers uses deadly force. This means that:

• Every incident of deadly force will trigger an investigation.
• All evidence collected during these investigations must be made available to state and local authorities.

Role of Inspectors General

The bill assigns a significant role to inspectors general:

• If an investigation is not managed by the agency's inspector general, they must conduct an independent review of the findings to ensure compliance and thoroughness.
• Should any wrongdoing be found, the inspector general will report the findings for possible disciplinary action or criminal prosecution.

Additionally, the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency is tasked with creating a uniform process for reporting deadly force incidents and establishing governmentwide guidelines for investigating these occurrences.

Reporting Requirements

The bill mandates quarterly reports from the Council of Inspectors General that detail:

• All instances of deadly force used by federal law enforcement officers.
• Any cases referred for criminal prosecution.

These reports will be submitted to multiple congressional committees and the Comptroller General of the United States.

Data Collection

The data reported must include several specific pieces of information:

• Demographic characteristics of both the officer and the person who was the target of the deadly force (including race, gender, age, and possible religious affiliation).
• Date, time, and location of the incident.
• Alleged criminal activity of the individual targeted.
• Nature of the deadly force used.
• An explanation from the law enforcement agency regarding the use of deadly force.
• The agency’s guidelines on the use of deadly force at the time of the incident.
• A description of any non-lethal methods attempted before using deadly force.

Limitations on Publication of Data

The bill also establishes limits on what information can be made public:

• No identifying information of the officer, the target, or any other persons involved will be released.
• Disclosure of information is restricted, only allowing it when necessary for compliance with the Act, to the individuals involved, or for litigation purposes.
• Information collected is to be exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, with similar exceptions as stated above.

Relevant Companies

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