The amendment proposes adding language to the Philadelphia City Charter calling on the police department to end the unconstitutional practice of ‘stop-and-frisk.’ Stop-and-frisk is applied at disproportionately higher rates against Black and POC citizens, leading to more negative outcomes for communities of color. ACLU has reported that illegal frisking or frisking ‘without reasonable suspicion’ has been on the rise in recent years. This proposed charter change would revise the Charter to add language calling on the Police Department to eliminate the practice of unconstitutional stop and frisk.

The amendment proposes the creation of an Office of the Victim Advocate for Philadelphia. This would include appointing an Advocate for crime victims, who will have particular expertise in the area of gun violence. Pennsylvania has an existing Office of Victim Advocate. However, the focus of that office is narrow, and does not effectively connect victims to the critical medical or mental health support that they may need. Moreover, the existing Pennsylvania office advocates for more severe punishments, including the death penalty, and frequently advocates against parole. Considering existing disparities in the criminal justice system that disproportionately affect POC and the current operation of the Office of the Victim Advocate in Pennsylvania, creating another such office could prove problematic.

The amendment proposes the creation of a new Citizens Police Oversight Commission to replace the existing Police Advisory Commission, which is a tiny, underfunded office lacking adequate budget and powers to hold Philadelphia’s 6,500 police officers accountable. The Commission’s current design makes it difficult to do its work: the PAC can investigate and request information from PPD, but PPD can just deny the request and hold up the investigation. The current PAC was created by executive order and is under the Mayor’s jurisdiction. Changing the Charter via ballot question is itself a more democratic approach to police oversight, which allows citizens to use their vote to reinforce the demand for police reform. This amendment would also give City Council the power to form the new Commission, which could allow more citizen input into the process. While the design of the new Commission is not yet known, this is an issue where the 2nd Ward can continue to work with our allies in City Council to support the formation of a more progressive, democratically responsive police oversight commission.

We do not take a position on this Ballot Question.