Source: CNN
(CNN)A Justice Department investigation found that the Baltimore Police Department engages in unconstitutional practices that led to disproportionate rates of stops, searches and arrests of African-Americans, and excessive use of force against juveniles and people with mental health disabilities.
The Department of Justice monitored the department’s policing methods for more than a year at the request of the Baltimore Police Department, after the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, who suffered a fatal injury while in police custody.
The report, which covered data from 2010 to 2016 and was obtained Tuesday by CNN, attributed the widespread practices to “systemic deficiencies” in training, policies, supervision and accountability structures.
Though the report does not directly reference the actions of officers in the Gray case, his death continues to loom large over the city’s attempts to heal and rebuild. The federal civil rights report comes weeks after charges were dropped against the remaining officers facing trial in Gray’s death.
As a result of the probe, the city and the Justice Department have agreed to negotiate a court-enforceable consent decree that will prescribe steps for reform — in addition to steps that Baltimore already has taken — city and federal officials told reporters in Baltimore on Wednesday.
Categories: America, Racism, The Muslim Times, USA