Following a comprehensive investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has found that the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and its Police Department (LPD) have engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional practices that violate the rights of its residents, particularly its Black population. The town, with a population of approximately 1,200, has seen its police force operate under discriminatory and abusive tactics that have deprived citizens of their constitutional protections.

The DOJ’s investigation revealed that LPD routinely conducted unlawful arrests, including jailing individuals who could not pay fines or fees without assessing their ability to pay. Officers also used excessive force and conducted searches and arrests without probable cause, often holding individuals on illegal “investigative holds.” Additionally, the LPD enforced money bail without justification and denied residents timely access to court.

The report highlighted LPD’s targeting of Black residents, who were 17.6 times more likely to be arrested than white residents. The majority of these arrests were for minor or non-criminal offenses, such as unpaid fines or using profanity. The DOJ found that LPD’s enforcement practices have burdened Lexington’s small population with over $1.7 million in unpaid fines, creating a cycle of debt and criminalization of poverty.

In several instances, LPD used excessive force during low-level arrests. One case involved officers breaking into a Black man’s home to arrest him for swearing at a public official, while another involved tasing a man multiple times over a traffic violation related to a tinted windshield. These actions are part of a broader pattern of using aggressive tactics for minor infractions.

“The Lexington Police Department abandoned its sacred position of trust by routinely violating constitutional rights,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “People in that community deserve better, and the Justice Department is committed to ensuring fairness and the rule of law.”

The DOJ investigation was launched in November 2023 and involved extensive reviews of police records, body camera footage, and interviews with officers and residents. While Lexington and the LPD cooperated with the investigation, they have now committed to working with the DOJ to address these violations.

This investigation is part of the DOJ’s ongoing effort to combat unlawful practices in policing, similar to actions taken in Ferguson, Missouri, and other communities.