Fifth U.S. Open Government National Action Plan
Commitment Tracker
Improving Data Availability to Promote Effective Policing
Progress for this commitment is tracked based on the following sub-commitment(s). You can also view the full text of this commitment.
| US0147.1 | To support greater transparency and accountability in our criminal justice system, the Executive Order directed the Attorney General to establish the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database as a centralized repository of official records documenting instances of law enforcement officer misconduct as well as commendations and awards for all Federal law enforcement agencies. |
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| Agency & Subagency | U.S. Department of Justice Justice Management Division |
Sub-Commitment Status | Complete |
| February 2024 Progress | Progress Update: As part of the Justice Department’s ongoing work to improve public safety and advance accountability in law enforcement, on December 18, 2023 the U.S. Department of Justice launched the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), a centralized repository of official records documenting instances of misconduct as well as commendations and awards for federal law enforcement officers. The NLEAD is accessible only to authorized users to help determine suitability and eligibility of candidates for law enforcement positions. As required by the Executive Order, on an annual basis, the Justice Department, through its Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), will publish a public report containing aggregated and anonymized data to maintain transparency and accountability. The NLEAD connects all federal law enforcement agencies under one accountability infrastructure. With the NLEAD, law enforcement agency hiring personnel will have more accurate and complete information about misconduct in a job candidate’s past. Agencies can then make more informed hiring decisions, which enhances both accountability and public safety. Evidence: Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-launches-national-law-enforcement-accountability-database NLEAD URL - https://www.nlead.gov Privacy Impact Assessment - https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-12/nlead_pia_12.14.23_final_0.pdf Privacy Act Systems of Records Notice (SORN) for NLEAD - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-12-01/pdf/2023-26073.pdf |
| August 2023 Progress | Progress update pending |
| US0147.2 | In coming years, the Federal Government commits to assessing the feasibility of what database records may be accessible to the public, taking into account the critical need for public trust, transparency and accountability, as well as safety, privacy, and due process concerns. |
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| Agency & Subagency | U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics |
Sub-Commitment Status | Complete |
| February 2024 Progress | Progress Update: Per Executive Order 14074, DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Statistics will publish an annual public report with aggregated and anonymized information on National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD). This Open Government sub-commitment is complete, and the results of what database records may be accessible to the public will be published by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Evidence: None |
| August 2023 Progress | Progress update pending |
| US0147.3 | This includes publishing regular public reports based on anonymized data from the database once the database is established. |
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| Agency & Subagency | U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics |
Sub-Commitment Status | In Progress |
| February 2024 Progress | Progress Update: This includes publishing regular public reports based on anonymized data from the database once the database is established. Evidence: DOJ is continuing to take action as required by this provision of EO 14074. https://www.justice.gov/d9/2023-05/Policing%20EO%20-%20DOJ%20Fact%20Sheet%20Final_508.pdf |
| August 2023 Progress | Progress update pending |
| US0147.4 | The Subcommittee commits to launching an interagency working group on Criminal Justice Statistics with representatives from relevant offices across the Federal Government. To inform that report, the Working Group will launch a 60- day comment period and host a series of listening sessions to solicit input from members of the public across the nation. |
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| Agency & Subagency | Executive Office of the President Office of Science and Technology Policy |
Sub-Commitment Status | Complete |
| February 2024 Progress | Progress Update: This commitment was previously completed Evidence: See previous update |
| August 2023 Progress | In January 2023, the Subcommittee on Equitable Data established the Criminal Justice Statistics Interagency Working Group. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/NSTC-Equity-and-Law-Enforcement-Data.pdf |
| US0147.5 | The Working Group will look for feedback on how to improve law enforcement agency data collection, use, and transparency to inform policies, protocols, and procedures that will result in more equitable, effective, and accountable policing outcomes. |
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| Agency & Subagency | Executive Office of the President Office of Science and Technology Policy |
Sub-Commitment Status | Complete |
| February 2024 Progress | Progress Update: This commitment was previously completed Evidence: See previous update |
| August 2023 Progress | OSTP issued an RFI through the Federal Register (link below), running from 2/26/2023 through 3/30/2023, asking for public information to inform a report to the President on the current data collection, use, and data transparency practices with respect to law enforcement activities. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/16/2023-03260/request-for-information-criminal-justice-statistics In addition to the RFI responses, the Working Group heard from over 200 representatives from the federal government; law enforcement; software vendors; nonprofit organizations focused on data privacy, victim advocacy, civil rights, legal defense, and legal prosecution; and academics. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/NSTC-Equity-and-Law-Enforcement-Data.pdf |