The Justice Department announced today that it has obtained an out-of-court settlement agreement with the City of Lexington, Mississippi, to remedy certain violations described in the Department’s Sept. 26, 2024, findings report. Specifically, the Department found that the Lexington Police Department (LPD) engages in a pattern or practice of civil rights violations.
“The Department of Justice supports local law enforcement” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights division. “We are very pleased that the City of Lexington and the Lexington Police Department reached an agreement to enhance the lawful and essential activities of the police department and its officers as they continue to protect and serve the citizens of Lexington and its surrounding areas.”
“Today’s agreement reflects a shared commitment to meaningful and sustainable change” said U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi. “Through these reforms, we seek not only to address the concerns identified in our investigation, but also to strengthen public trust and promote practices that respect the rights and dignity of every person.”
As part of the agreement, the City and LPD will amend policies and practices regarding fines and fees, bail and release criteria, and potential conflict of interests. LPD will also revise its policies and practices regarding stops, searches, arrests, and use of force policies and update its reporting and review of such activities by officers.
The Department looks forward to working cooperatively with the City and LPD to ensure that they remedy the alleged violations.
The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi initiated the investigation in March 2023 under 34 U.S.C. 12601 which authorizes the Department to take action to remedy a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional rights by state or local law enforcement agencies.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work regarding the conduct of law enforcement agencies is available on its website at: www.justice.gov/crt/conduct-law-enforcement-agencies .