June 29, 2011

Policing the Police

According to a recent National Public Radio article, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating 15 police departments to determine whether officers are discriminating against minorities or using too much force.

Since the start of the Obama administration, the DOJ has launched investigations all over the country. They include tracking how many minorities are stopped and frisked and how many times police use guns or other weapons against suspects.

After an 11 month investigation of the New Orleans Police Department, the DOJ found widespread racial profiling, unconstitutional searches, and the failure to investigate rape and domestic violence.

The DOJ has stated that unlike under previous administrations, they want to stick around to ensure these problems are really solved before turning their attention to other things.