“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.
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— Abraham Lincoln
The Need for Transparency
Without transparency there can be no trust between Philadelphians and the police. Practices inside the Homicide Unit are largely hidden from the public. While some evidence of detective misconduct has been, and currently is, the subject of Philadelphia Police Internal Affairs investigations, those investigations are not made public. Information about those investigations cannot be generally accessed by defendants and/or their counsel much less the general public. Moreover, after a defendant is convicted, he no longer has a 'right' to discovery and cannot subpoena these records absent court approval.
Mission Statement
Police Transparency Project (PTP) is a 501 (c) 3 organization that aims to ensure a just legal system by promoting transparency in law enforcement and criminal justice. Through our mission we identify, investigate and address police and prosecutorial misconduct in our legal system. Our data collection and analysis serves as a vital resource for attorneys, private investigators, and the wrongfully convicted during their criminal trials and appeals.
Our comprehensive database is not just a tool for individual cases; it is a catalyst for broader systemic change. By highlighting patterns and practices of misconduct, including coercive interrogation techniques leading to false confessions, we provide essential insights for policy, directive, and legislative reforms.
PTP provides Continuing Legal Education to attorneys, private investigators, and community members on identifying, investigating, and litigating wrongful convictions and the civil cases that often come after exoneration. Founded in 2021, PTP’s initial focus has been on transparency in Philadelphia policing. WIth added funding PTP intends to expand to cover every county in Pennsylvania.
Goals
The Unconstitutional Pattern and Practice Database will continue to be a critical resource for use in criminal trials, appeals and civil actions. Evidence that officers/detective’s have a history of misconduct and/or utilize newly identified unconstitutional patterns and practices be used at trial and/or on appeal to impeach the detectives trial testimony or as a basis to grant relief to wrongly convicted defendants.
In addition, information compiled on the database will provide the statistical basis to identify the need for police training, policy changes and legislation. It is hoped that information gleaned from this database will help promote lasting, systemic changes and facilitate an environment where Pennsylvanians can trust the reliability and constitutionality of convictions.
We believe that trust between the community and police is paramount, and it can only be built on the bedrock of transparency. Our work at PTP aims to illuminate the truth, ensure accountability, and foster an environment where justice is not just an ideal, but a reality for all.
The Police Transparency Project is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax deductible. PTP's Tax ID number is: 86-3617030
