Pennsylvania Citizen Law Enforcement Advisory and Review Commission (CLEAR)
The Pennsylvania Citizen Law Enforcement Advisory and Review Commission (CLEAR) is an independent public institution responsible for the external oversight of law enforcement in Pennsylvania. It was established in 2023 by the Governor of Pennsylvania through Executive Order 2023-21, with the aim of assisting law enforcement agencies under its jurisdiction in improving their policing practices. CLEAR continues the work of the Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Citizen Advisory Commission (PSLECAC), which was created under the Wolf administration in 2020.
Since CLEAR is not an institution from an EU member state, a former member, or a candidate country, it holds only observer status in IPCAN.
Missions
CLEAR is attached to the Office State Inspector General of Pennsylvania (OSIG), whose role is to deter, detect, prevent and eradicate fraud, misconduct and abuse in the programs, operations and contracts of executive agencies. The institution reviews completed internal investigations concerning allegations of incidents that occured within agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction. This includes, among others, investigations into police-involved shootings that resulted in injury or death of civilians, investigations of lower-level use of force that caused injury or death (including arrest and control techniques, baton strikes and the use of electrical impulse weapons), as well as investigations of allegations of racial or ethnic discrimination and other biased policing practices. Following its reviews, CLEAR may make recommendations, which are communicated to the agency and then made public in an annual report submitted to the governor. CLEAR holds quarterly meetings to carry out this work and fulfil its mission.
Members
Ms. Christa Caceres: Chair
Mr. David A. Sonenshein: Vice Chair
Commission members are appointed by the governor. They come from diverse backgrounds and have expertise in law enforcement, mental health, and community advocacy. Before reviewing completed internal investigations, commissioners undergo training on several topics, including use of force, biased policing practices and agency disciplinary procedures.