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East County News Service
May 20, 2015 (San Diego)--The ACLU of California has launched Mobile Justice CA, a free smart phone app allowing Californians to automatically record and submit cell phone videos to their ACLU affiliate when they feel law enforcement officers are violating civil rights.
Videos captured on the Mobile Justice CA app available for use on Android and i- phones will be transmitted to the ACLU and preserved even if the user’s phone is later seized or destroyed.
Norma Chavez-Peterson, executive director of the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, states, “The concerns over police practices, including racial profiling and excessive use of force, are very real for communities across the state. This app will help serve as a check on abuse – whether by police officers, sheriff’s deputies, border patrol, or other officials – allowing ordinary citizens to record and document any interaction with law enforcement.”
Mobile Justice CA can be downloaded free through Apple’s App Store or Google Play. It enables users to register, record, witness and report interactions with law enforcement and also includes information on individual rights when stopped by law enforcement.
Besides allowing an individual to record exchanges with law enforcement officers and automatically transmit the video to the ACLU, it also sends out a witness alert to anyone else with the app--giving them the option to go to the location and document the encounter when police stop someone. The app user can also complete an incident report to send the ACLU for review.
The Ella Baker Center is partnering with the ACLU of CA to support the launch of the Mobile Justice CA app, broadening community organizations’ and community members’ engagement with the app.
Patrisse Cullors, director of the Truth and Reinvestment Campaign at the Ella Baker Center, says, “People who historically have had very little power in the face of law enforcement now have this tool to reclaim their power and dignity. Our vision is that this app will ultimately help community members connect and organize to respond to incidents of law enforcement violence, and then share their experiences and knowledge with others.”
The ACLU’s director of police practices, Peter Bibring, notes that, “From Rodney King to Walter Scott, we’ve seen video bring police abuse into public view that otherwise could have gone ignored. Helping the public record law enforcement will help deter misconduct and document abuse when it does happen, so both officers and the criminal justice system can be held accountable.”
While Mobile Justice CA is intended for use by bystanders, the ACLU of California recognizes that some users may want to use it while they are involved in a police encounter. Anyone interacting with law enforcement should announce that they are reaching for a phone, and that they are attempting to access the app to record the exchange. Users’ safety depends on their ability to clearly communicate any actions they take and remain calm, the ACLU emphasizes.
The ACLU of California will be working with community organizations to provide “Know Your Rights” trainings on how to use the app as well as basic rights related to interactions with law enforcement. Groups are encouraged to contact the ACLU to set up a training class.
A grant from Susan Adelman and Claudio Llanos allowed the ACLU of California to develop the Mobile Justice CA app.
For more information on the Mobile Justice CA app, including a video, FAQ, and one-page overview of how to use the app, please see: https://www.mobilejusticeca.org
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