Right To Know Act Pros And Cons

The Right to Know Bill requires that it is vital before any law enforcement activity that police officers present the civilian with their identity and reason for the activity. This ensures searches and seizures by police officials are reasonable. Although there is Supreme Court precedent in the Illinois v Rodriguez case to oppose increased protections of people’s rights under the Fourth Amendment, the Right to Know Act should be passed into law because it would make the community safer for LGBT groups and people of color and the amount of unlawful searches that occur will decrease.

The passing of the Right to Know Act will allow for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender groups and people of color to possess feel less threatened by the
Police often do not address civilians with utmost etiquette during interactions. Councilman, Antonio Reynoso shares his experience with the police: “‘They told us to turn around and put our hands on the wall. They searched our pockets and then they left. We didn't know who they were, where they came from’” (Expert Text Reynoso). Reynoso was searched without receiving any information prior to the search or after. When using etiquette, it is polite to provide your name upon a first formal or informal encounter, something that the Right to Know Act will require police officers to do. Given that “[they] didn’t know who they were,” it can be concluded that the police did not identify themselves. However, doing so shows that there is a lack of respect towards civilians. This can improve with the passing of the Right to Know Act because the bill would require that police introduce themselves before any law enforcement activity occurs, thus, enforcing a level of respect. Furthermore, Antonio Reynoso states, “All that we are asking is that we improve relationships. When people know their rights or feel that things are happening by procedure, there’s a level of accountability and respect that’s developed between both parties” (Expert Text Reynoso). Since this bill supports the Fourth Amendment’s right to conduct searches based upon probable cause, there