Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice

Executive Order 13896 of October 28, 2019

Commission on Law Enforcement and the
Administration of Justice

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, and in order to enhance public safety and
support the well-ordered administration of justice, it
is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Purpose. Crime, especially violent crime,
denies people their unalienable rights to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Together as a
society, we must work to prevent crime from occurring,
ensure that those who perpetrate crime face justice,
and assist victims in overcoming the effects of crime
on their lives. My Administration is focused on
reducing crime, and the social and economic problems--
including family and neighborhood disintegration--that
contribute to criminal behavior. In addition, the
continued malign activity of transnational criminal
organizations, and the widespread abuse of drugs
trafficked by such groups, are challenges that confront
our communities and law enforcement in their efforts to
keep the American people safe.

Rigorous study of crime, including its causal factors,
and current law enforcement practices is essential to
assessing our current criminal justice system's merits
and opportunities for improvement. Over 85 percent of
United States law enforcement personnel are State,
local, and tribal officials. The Department of Justice
has long respected this traditional balance of law
enforcement resources while supporting State, local,
and tribal law enforcement efforts with Federal
resources. State and local law enforcement benefit from
Federal programs and partnerships in the areas of
information-sharing, collaborative enforcement
operations, training and technical assistance
initiatives, and Federal grants. Public safety and
proper policing are issues of both national and local
significance that continue to require the close
cooperation and coordination between the Department of
Justice and State, local, and tribal law enforcement.
In particular, the Department of Justice has a
historically important role in helping to develop,
identify, and establish best practices for law
enforcement and supporting a range of programs related
to the administration of justice. My Administration
builds upon that important work every day.

Sec. 2. Establishment. (a) The Attorney General shall
establish a Commission on Law Enforcement and the
Administration of Justice (Commission), and designate
an individual to chair the Commission.

    (b) The Attorney General shall determine the
composition of and procedures for the functioning of
the Commission.
    (c) Officers or employees of the Federal Government
designated to the Commission shall be full-time, or
permanent part-time, officers or employees of the
Federal Government. Any such designation shall not
affect the civil service status or privileges of the
Federal officer or employee.
    (d) The Attorney General may, at his discretion,
invite elected officers of State, local, and tribal
governments (or their designated employees with
authority to act on their behalf) to serve on the
Commission in their official capacities.

Sec. 3. Function. (a) The Commission shall study issues
related to law enforcement and the administration of
justice and make recommendations

to the Attorney General, who shall submit a report and
recommendations to the President on actions that can be
taken to prevent, reduce, and control crime, increase
respect for the law, and assist victims. The Commission
shall undertake, as directed by the Attorney General, a
review of relevant research and expertise and make
recommendations regarding important current issues
facing law enforcement and the criminal justice system
such as:

(i) challenges to law enforcement associated with mental illness,
homelessness, substance abuse, and other social factors that influence
crime and strain criminal justice resources;

(ii) the recruitment, hiring, training, and retention of law enforcement
officers, including in rural and tribal communities;

(iii) the potential for public and private initiatives, including in
“qualified opportunity zones” as defined in section 13823(a) of the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, to reduce crime and improve police-community
relations;

(iv) refusals by State and local prosecutors to enforce laws or prosecute
categories of crimes;

(v) the physical safety, health, and wellness of law enforcement officers;

(vi) the need to promote public respect for the law and law enforcement
officers;

(vii) better integration of education, employment, social services, and
public health services into efforts to reduce crime and ease the burden on
law enforcement, courts, and corrections systems;

(viii) the use of targeted deterrence approaches to reduce violent crime;

(ix) new and developing methodologies, technologies, and best practices for
combatting criminal activity, delinquency, and public disorder;

(x) the effects of technological innovations on law enforcement and the
criminal justice system, including the challenges and opportunities
presented by such innovations;

(xi) the effectiveness of contemporary law enforcement training methods
around critical topics, the direction of next generation training methods,
and an understanding of critical training needs;

(xii) the effectiveness of Federal grant programs in establishing best
practices for law enforcement and supporting the administration of justice
in State, local, and tribal jurisdictions; and

(xiii) other topics related to law enforcement and the control of crime as
the Attorney General deems appropriate.

    (b) In carrying out its functions under subsection
(a) of this section, the Commission may host listening
sessions and otherwise solicit input from a diverse
array of stakeholders in the area of criminal justice,
including State, local, and tribal law enforcement
agencies and organizations; government service
providers; businesses; nonprofit entities; public
health experts; victims rights' organizations; other
advocacy and interest groups; reentry experts;
academia; and other public and private entities and
individuals with relevant experience or expertise.
    (c) In developing its recommendations under
subsection (a) of this section, the Commission shall
seek to recommend only practical and concrete actions
that can be taken by Federal, State, local, and tribal
law enforcement and other government entities to
improve the administration of justice.
    (d) Upon the request of the Chair, the heads of
executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall, to
the extent permitted by law, provide the Commission
with reasonable access to the information it needs for
purposes of carrying out its functions.
    (e) Upon the request of the Attorney General, the
heads of agencies may detail personnel to the
Commission to assist in carrying out its functions,

and shall endeavor to provide such personnel and other
assistance to the Commission to the extent practicable,
consistent with applicable law and within existing
appropriations, through appropriate interagency
agreements, including agreements under the Economy Act.
Consistent with applicable law and within existing
appropriations, the Attorney General shall use the
resources and personnel of the Department of Justice in
support of the Commission and its activities.

Sec. 4. Reports. The Commission shall submit a report
and recommendations to the Attorney General no later
than 1 year from the date of this order. The Attorney
General, following consultation with the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget, shall submit a
report and recommendations to the President no later
than 60 days thereafter.

Sec. 5. Termination. The Commission shall terminate no
later than 90 days after submitting its report and
recommendations to the Attorney General, unless
extended by the President.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    October 28, 2019.