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SD 1789

An Act addressing discriminatory police reporting

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Sal DiDomenico

Massachusetts bill requiring police to publicly report demographic data on stops, searches, and force to identify potential discriminatory patterns in policing.

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Bill Summary · SD 1789

Legislative bill overview

SD 1789 requires police departments to collect and publicly report data on police stops, searches, and uses of force disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and other demographic categories. The bill mandates annual reporting to the state and creates mechanisms for identifying potential patterns of discriminatory policing at individual and departmental levels.

Why is this important

Comprehensive demographic data on police interactions is currently fragmented or unavailable in many jurisdictions, making it difficult to identify systemic disparities or hold departments accountable. This bill addresses a significant gap in transparency and evidence-based policymaking around potential racial disparities in policing, which affects public trust and civil rights compliance.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy and data security concerns: Opponents may worry about how demographic data is collected, stored, and protected, particularly regarding potential re-identification of individuals in smaller communities
  • Implementation costs and burden: Police departments may face significant expenses for new data systems, training, and reporting infrastructure, especially in smaller municipalities with limited budgets
  • Causation vs. correlation: Stakeholders debate whether disparities in reported data necessarily indicate discrimination or reflect other legitimate factors (crime rates, complaint-driven enforcement, geographic deployment)
  • Remedy mechanisms unclear: The bill may lack specificity on what actions follow from identified disparities, creating uncertainty about enforcement and consequences

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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