# DOJ Settles With Mississippi Police Over Civil Rights Violations

> DOJ forces Mississippi police to reform after finding civil rights abuses.
- Title: DOJ Settles With Mississippi Police Over Civil Rights…
- Summary: DOJ forces Mississippi police to reform after finding civil rights abuses. The U.S. Department of Justice settled with the Lexington Police Department to end…
- Keywords: doj, lexington police department, mississippi, civil rights violations, reforms, fourteenth amendment, news, politics, Settles, Police, Civil, Rights
- Source: HuffPost — https://huffpost.com/entry/doj-settles-with-mississippi-police-over-civil-rights-violations_n_6ad2abd9e4b00caf853c8c76
- Published: 2026-10-16T23:01:23+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: doj, lexington police department, mississippi, civil rights violations, reforms, fourteenth amendment, news, politics
## DOJ Settlement Announcement
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement requiring reforms in a Mississippi city and its police department after finding discrimination against Black people, excessive force, and retaliation against critics.
## 2024 DOJ Report Findings
A 2024 DOJ report found the Lexington Police Department routinely violated civil rights in a rural, poor, majority-Black city 65 miles north of Mississippi’s capital.
## Unlawful Fines Practice
The agreement bars the city from jailing people for unpaid fines without assessing affordability, a practice that violates the Fourteenth Amendment and targets over 650 residents.
## Reforms Required
The city and police must dismiss unlawful fines warrants, expunge records, and implement DOJ-approved trainings on stops, searches, arrests, and use of force.
## Three-Year Compliance Period
The settlement lasts three years but can be cut short or extended based on mutual agreement on compliance with reforms.
## Key takeaway

The U.S. Department of Justice settled with the Lexington Police Department to end discriminatory practices, excessive force, and retaliatory actions against Black citizens.