In an unexpected move, the US Department of Justice has shut down the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), which was designed to facilitate the reporting of misconduct incidents involving federal law enforcement officers. While the department updated its website stating that agencies can no longer input data into NLEAD, no specific reason was provided for the cessation of the database’s operation. For more information, you can view the Department’s update here.
The decision follows the rescission of 78 executive orders issued during the Biden Administration. Specifically, in January, President Trump rescinded Executive Order 14074, which had been signed by President Biden two years earlier, following the murder of George Floyd. This executive order not only established NLEAD but also mandated federal agencies to prioritize de-escalation techniques and eliminate the use of chokeholds. Executive Order 14074 can be reviewed in detail.
NLEAD was not accessible to the public. Instead, it served as a resource for law enforcement agencies to determine whether their officers had a prior history of misconduct or violations of agency rules. More about the database’s original intent and usage is available here.
The genesis of the idea to create a federal law enforcement accountability database dates back to 2020, just a month after George Floyd’s death. At that time, President Trump signed Executive Order 12939, called “Safe Policing for Safe Communities,” which also aimed at accountability within law enforcement by creating a database for sharing information on the use of excessive force. More details about this executive order can be accessed here.
The discontinuation of NLEAD raises important questions about federal law enforcement accountability and transparency moving forward. For the original announcement, visit JURIST.