Julian

LITIGATION: JULIAN successfully advanced legal efforts leading to a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and its police department, following evidence of systemic police misconduct. These legal interventions are setting a precedent for holding law enforcement agencies accountable, particularly in smaller police departments across the country.

POLICY: In 2023, JULIAN influenced national policy discussions on law enforcement oversight, emphasizing the need for federal intervention in smaller police departments. Our work in Virginia exposed critical gaps in policing, contributing to broader efforts to reform practices at the state and national levels. With over 50% of police forces in the U.S. consisting of 10 or fewer officers, like those in Lexington, Mississippi, and similar jurisdictions in Virginia, JULIAN advocates for expanded investigations and policy reforms to ensure accountability across all levels of law enforcement. JULIAN also drafted the new Earned Sentence Credit Bill in Virginia that is leading to the release of 2,000 prisoners this year and another 6,000 over the following six years.

ADVOCACY: JULIAN's advocacy extends beyond Mississippi to Virginia, where we've been instrumental in engaging community stakeholders and government officials to drive reform in law enforcement practices. By showcasing the success of DOJ intervention in Lexington, where police abuse has nearly halted, and leveraging our advocacy in Virginia, JULIAN is pushing for federal oversight and reforms that can be applied to small police departments nationwide. These efforts aim to create lasting change in law enforcement accountability and transparency.