Wade Henderson

The actions of Attorney General Jeff Sessions could mean disaster for public safety in our nation’s cities.

Sessions’ career has been marked by opposition to civil rights legislation, a failed campaign for a federal judgeship after allegations of racial insensitivity, and a dangerous disavowal of consent decrees, which were crucial to the previous administration’s efforts to make our cities safer — for citizens and law enforcement. And while some say it's unlikely that he'll roll back decrees, his actions already say otherwise.

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Last week, he reversed tenuous progress made under President Obama to improve the justice system. In a memo, Sessions moved to kill a plan that set a goal of reducing and ultimately ending the use of private prisons. This is despite evidence that people in private prisons are more likely to be assaulted. In addition, inmates in private prisons can have poor access to basic rehabilitative services.

He also made it clear during his confirmation hearings that he was willing to roll back consent decrees. He indicated as much again recently when he stated that the Department of Justice would pull back on scrutinizing the practices of law enforcement. Under Obama, decrees forced police departments across the country to re-examine policies on stop-and-frisk and use of force and look closely at practices that perpetuate racial profiling.

Consent decrees have forced progress

The previous administration focused on cities such as Ferguson, Mo., Cleveland and Baltimore. In these communities, where the Department of Justice uncovered unconstitutional policing practices, widespread civil rights abuses and flagrant distrust among police and residents, there have been continued efforts through consent decrees to bridge the divide between police and those they are sworn to protect and serve.

These instances of progressive policing reform have the support of police, sheriffs, city mayors and residents, building hope for a future characterized by cooperation and trust. After calling for an investigation in 2012 into Cleveland policing practices, Mayor Frank Jackson welcomed the changes outlined in the consent decree, calling the effects of the agreement “a distinct change that we believe is good for the city as a whole.”

In Baltimore, where the city agreed to a consent decree on Jan. 12, Police Commissioner Kevin Davis approved of the agreement, asserting, “We will be better crime fighters and we will have a greater, more trustful relationship with our community.”

Sessions as a senator consistently undermined the progress consent decrees represent, calling them “dangerous” as well as an “end run around the democratic process.” In his confirmation hearing, Sessions made his opinion of consent decrees known further, stating, “I think there is a concern that good police officers and good departments can be sued by the Department of Justice when you just have some individuals within a department doing things wrong.”

Sessions has also proved to be an opponent of the COPS (Community-Oriented Policing Services) program, which is dedicated to refining community policing standards. Sessions voted twice against bills that would have provided funding for the program, effectively saying no to improving the role and view of police officers within their communities. Our dedicated law enforcement officers are better served by building strong, trusting relationships with the communities they are entrusted to protect.

Community-cop relations require trust

Sessions could escalate distrust between police and residents of our cities. His influence will reach further than just policing reform. As attorney general, Sessions will be responsible for the criminal enforcement of civil rights legislation that he has consistently voted against.

In 2013, Sessions voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. He opposed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, which extended the definition of hate crimes to include those based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability. As a senator, Sessions opposed countless progressive civil rights laws, placing himself in direct contrast with the American principle of equal treatment under the law.

From bipartisan criminal justice reform to civil rights legislation and litigation, Sessions has not been — nor is he likely to be — a champion for the individuals who seek and require legal aid and the fair, impartial administration of justice.

Whether Sessions will negate the DOJ's progress with law enforcement is not yet certain. We cannot say how far Sessions will set back the civil rights enforcement and policing reforms that have worked to improve police-civilian relationships in our most vulnerable communities. What is perfectly clear, however, is that communities in need of sensible reforms will not have a friend in Sessions.

If you, like many other Americans, are anxious about how Sessions will conduct himself, there are many things you can do. First and foremost, connect with those organizations working to ensure that the Sessions Justice Department remains accountable to all Americans. Reach out to your senators and representatives, or attend their town hall meetings to urge them to ensure we maintain the gains we’ve made in police reform through consent decrees, implicit bias training and reform on other issues such as civil asset forfeiture — which allows police to seize property suspected of being involved in a crime (without arrest or conviction of the property owner).

By using every opportunity to make our voices heard, we can all work together to make sure that the Sessions Justice Department remains committed to protecting us all.

Wade Henderson is president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.