The ACLU of Massachusetts and Bridgewater State University have produced a model policy designed to reduce instances of bias in policing, including racial profiling, on college and university campuses.
Developed over two years in close collaboration with students, police, and other higher education stakeholders, the Racially Just Policing Model Policy builds on recent statewide police reform to ensure campuses are safe learning, working, and living environments for all.
The model policy contains recommendations and best practices that are designed to help colleges and universities develop community-driven policing practices, build trust and transparency, and reckon with law enforcement’s history of racial injustice. From creating alternative emergency response options for mental or behavioral health issues on campus to establishing regular assessment of encounter and arrest data, the model policy aims to help institutions achieve more welcoming and supporting campus communities.
The model policy was informed by survey responses from presidents, police chiefs, and diversity administrators at 18 public colleges and universities in Massachusetts, as well as input from the State University Council of Presidents and the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges.
The authors met with students from several institutions, including Harvard University, Greenfield Community College, and Bunker Hill Community College. In addition, the report was bolstered by guidance from police reform experts and independent research. The model policy offers a framework for institutions to consider, acknowledging the unique nature, structure, and needs of each campus environment.
Read the model policy here.