Mississippi House Bill HB87

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/4/23
• Refer: 1/4/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

"Jennifer's Law"; enact to prohibit state and local agencies from establishing traffic ticket quotas.

Impact

If enacted, HB 87 would significantly alter how law enforcement agencies assess their employees. Instead of relying on quantitative metrics such as citation counts, agencies would need to adopt a more holistic approach that includes qualitative criteria like attendance, behavior, and overall performance. This shift is anticipated to enhance public trust in law enforcement by mitigating the pressure on officers to issue unnecessary tickets, which can lead to community discontent and a strained relationship between officers and residents.

Summary

House Bill 87, known as 'Jennifer's Law', aims to eliminate the practice of arrest quotas in Mississippi by prohibiting any state or local agency that employs peace officers or parking enforcement employees from establishing such policies. The bill identifies an 'arrest quota' as any requirement regarding the number of arrests or citations issued, thereby emphasizing that performance evaluations should not solely depend on these metrics. This legislation is intended to encourage a more ethical approach to law enforcement and traffic management.

Contention

The proposed law is expected to stir discussions regarding law enforcement accountability and performance metrics. Advocates argue that avoiding arrest quotas will ensure that officers focus more on community safety and genuine law enforcement rather than achieving arbitrary ticketing targets. However, potential critics may raise concerns about how officers will be evaluated and whether the absence of such quotas might affect the motivation of some officers to perform their duties effectively.

Enforcement

Jennifer's Law will take effect on July 1, 2023, signaling a substantial change in policing practices within Mississippi. The implementation of this law requires all agencies to revise their evaluation criteria, ensuring it is aligned with the new regulations against arrest quotas. This law not only aims to redefine police accountability standards but also highlights a broader commitment to reforming law enforcement practices across the state.