This site reports on an internet survey conducted January through August 2019 of the government bodies responsible for civilian oversight of municipal law enforcement entities in the top 100 U.S. jurisdictions based on population. The survey is an attempt to identify the entities and document the forms of civilian oversight in each city.
In addition to documenting the existence and functions of the entities in each city, the survey, which is based on information available on the internet at the time of data gathering, was also conducted to assess the prevalence of the various forms of civilian oversight across the largest U.S. cities. Based on online information, the survey identifies each civilian oversight agency as providing one or more of the following seven civilian oversight functions: Investigative, Audit, Review, Adjudicative, Advisory, Supervisory, and Appeals. The information on each agency has been compiled to shed light on the prevalence of the various forms of civilian oversight of policing that the largest U.S. cities employ.
The results show that a majority of the top 100 U.S. jurisdictions employ at least one form of civilian oversight of police, and that many jurisdictions have developed more complex, multi-functional systems as dozens of municipalities either started up or enhanced the powers of existing civilian oversight systems in the preceding five years.
Note: Thanks for checking out our website. This site is based on data collected in 2019. For more current information on civilian oversight, go to NACOLE.org
Population data sourced from 2017 United States Census.
Color lightens with number of oversight functions city employs.
Size increases with city's population.
Investigative: Civilian Complaint Review Board, Inspector General for NYPD
Review: Civilian Complaint Review Board, Inspector General for NYPD
Audit: Inspector General for NYPD
Adjudicative: None
Appeals: None
Supervisory: None
Advisory: Inspector General for NYPD
Investigative: None
Review: LAPD Office of the Inspector General
Audit: None
Adjudicative: None
Appeals: Board of Rights
Supervisory: Board of Police Commissioners
Advisory: None
Investigative: Civilian Office of Police Accountability
Review: OIG/Public Safety Inspector General
Audit: OIG/Public Safety Inspector General
Adjudicative: Chicago Police Board
Appeals: None
Supervisory: Chicago Police Board
Advisory: Civilian Office of Police Accountability , OIG/Public Safety Inspector General, Chicago Police Board
Investigative: None
Review: Independent Police Oversight Board
Audit: None
Adjudicative: None
Appeals: None
Supervisory: None
Advisory: None
Investigative: None
Review: Police Advisory Commission
Audit: None
Adjudicative: None
Appeals: Police Advisory Commission
Supervisory: None
Advisory: None