Political Quotes

Xavier Becerra: “What this legislation does, it removes the objective person's standard of what is reasonable under the Constitution, and…”

On the recordMay 22, 2002
What this legislation does, it removes the objective person's standard of what is reasonable under the Constitution, and says what is subjectively reasonable. So that if the officer said, well, I believed I was reasonable in going after that African American woman and strip searching her because I thought she might be carrying contraband, we under this legislation could not challenge that. Because so long as he believed he was acting in good faith, however that good faith is defined, because this bill does not define it, you could not go after that person. This legislation would deny us any recourse, that African American woman, that individual who is innocent, recourse.
Said by
Xavier Becerra
Democratic · California

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the implications of legislation on law enforcement practices and civil rights.

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