The U.S. Justice Department has released findings from an investigation into the police department of Lexington, Mississippi, revealing widespread constitutional violations.
The investigation, launched last November, uncovered that the Lexington Police Department LPD routinely engaged in illegal arrests, excessive force, and discriminatory practices, particularly targeting Black residents.
According to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, the department has violated constitutional rights by arresting and jailing individuals for their inability to pay fines, using excessive force, and retaliating against those who criticize the police.
Additionally, the LPD conducted stops, searches, and arrests without probable cause, detained individuals unlawfully, and used fines to fund their operations, which represents a conflict of interest.
The Justice Department emphasized that LPD’s enforcement practices have placed the town’s residents, especially Black citizens, under significant financial strain, with more than $1.7 million owed in fines in a community of just 1,200.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland condemned the department’s actions, stating they betrayed the community’s trust.
This investigation is part of a broader pattern of federal scrutiny into police departments accused of systemic civil rights violations, often leading to federal oversight or reforms.