National oversight group outlines models, authorities and funding options for civilian oversight of police

Tina Barr, a representative of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, told the task force that civilian oversight centers on independence and external review of policing and related systems. “The primary roles of civilian oversight of law enforcement reviewing, investigating, and auditing internal law enforcement investigations or processes,” Barr said, summarizing the core functions she reviewed for the group.

Barr outlined three commonly used approaches. Review‑focused models (commonly called civilian review boards) typically use volunteer members to evaluate completed misconduct investigations, remand cases for additional work when reviews are incomplete, and recommend policy changes. Investigation‑focused models employ paid investigators who may conduct independent probes and often have greater access to…