The death of Stephon Clark last March sent a ripple through California and sparked a conversation on what “use of force” really means.
Sacramento police officers shot Clark dead in his grandmother’s backyard, because they believed he was armed. It turned out he was holding a cell phone.
Assemblymember Shirley Weber has since introduced Assembly Bill 392, aimed at setting standards for use of force by police. The bill has recently passed the Senate and is awaiting a signature by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The bill, dubbed by some as the “Stephon Clark law,” will change California’s deadly force law from “reasonable” to “necessary.”
Our correspondent, Sarina Sandoval, had a chance to speak with Stephon Clark’s family to get their reaction to the legislation.
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