Ferguson, Mo. Cops and Court on Hot Seat Thanks to ‘Searing’ Dept. of Justice Report

Racial discrimination and violations of federal constitutional rights are the rule, not the exception, in the Ferguson, Mo. police department and municipal court, a Department of Justice report released March 4 concluded.

The police department and court both showed a widespread “pattern or practice” of racial bias due “at least in part” to intentional discrimination, it said.

The report also found routine First and Fourth Amendment violations from the police, and 14th Amendment due process and equal protection violations from the court.

The report contains 26 “immediate recommendations” for changing police and court practices, such as improving officer training and ...