Justice Department Limits Police Tactics When Entering People’s Homes

The Justice Department announced Tuesday that it will limit police officers from using chokeholds on suspects and “no-knock” entries when entering people’s homes.

The department’s new policy will prohibit federal law enforcement from using chokeholds unless deadly force is authorized and will only allow no-knock warrants if approved by senior department officials after seeking a required request.

“Building trust and confidence between law enforcement and the public we serve is central to our mission at the Justice Department,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.

“The limitations implemented today on the use of ‘chokeholds,’ ‘carotid restraints’ and ‘no-knock’ warrants, combined with our recent expansion of body-worn cameras to DOJ’s federal agents, are among the important steps the department is taking to improve law enforcement safety and accountability.”

This federal move on limiting police tactics comes after a year of increased pressure for systemic police reform following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

In a memo released Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said that "in the wake of a number of recent tragedies, law enforcement around the nation is reexamining the way it engages with individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice system."

The memo continued: "I am directing the Department's law enforcement components to revise their policies to explicitly prohibit the use of chokeholds and the carotid restraint technique unless deadly force is authorized, and to limit the circumstances in which agents may seek to enter a dwelling pursuant to a warrant without complying with the 'knock and announce' rule."

CNN noted that federal law enforcement agencies and task force leaders are directed to inform officers of the policy change and incorporate it into training.