As the police become increasingly militarized, and our world increasingly surveilled, the Police Review Project (PRP) believes that we must hold these systems of power accountable for their misconduct while working toward a more just system. Specifically, PRP advocates for police reform and accountability measures through policy, research, community outreach, and assisting with ongoing civil litigation.
Our mission is to make a wider impact on the policy and practices of local police departments to prevent further harm to our community members. Students will receive hands-on training by a practicing civil rights attorney about various aspects of the criminal legal system and have the chance to watch court proceedings. Students may also work with Berkeley’s Police Accountability Board (PAB), which offers an avenue for policy recommendations to the Berkeley Police Department. Students will have the option to attend PAB’s public meetings to provide feedback to the city on the strengths and weaknesses of their current police accountability measures.
In the past, students have conducted research and drafted memos with policy recommendations for the PAB. Students have also supported the Center for Protest Law and Litigation with ongoing litigation around mass violations of civil rights by police departments via document review of police body camera footage. We expect to continue this work for the 2025-26 school year.
Supervision: Students in the Police Review Project receive supervision from community attorneys specialized in police accountability.
Time commitment: 3-4 hours a week with biweekly meetings on Thursday evenings around 5:30pm..
For more information, please contact the student leaders at berkeleypolicereviewproject@berkeley.edu.