- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
The U.S. Justice Department has opened 12 investigations into possible civil rights abuses by police departments since Democratic President Joe Biden took office, but has not secured even one binding settlement to implement reforms in any of them.
After winning office following a wave of mass protests in 2020 over police killings of Black people, the Biden administration highlighted “pattern or practice” investigations of alleged systematic civil rights violations by state or local police as critical to police reform.
A Reuters review of the probes shows that the Justice Department under Biden has moved at a slower pace than it maintained in Democratic President Barack Obama’s first term.
A Justice Department spokesperson said that ensuring lawful and effective policing is a “top priority,” noting that the department has been enforcing 16 existing agreements while also opening 12 new investigations.