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Civil Rights Division

All articles tagged with #civil rights division

Trump DOJ blocks Minnesota ICE shooting probe, sparking resignations in U.S. attorney’s office
politics1 month ago

Trump DOJ blocks Minnesota ICE shooting probe, sparking resignations in U.S. attorney’s office

The Trump administration appears to steer the Minneapolis ICE shooting investigation away from the officer who fired and toward the victim, Renee Good, triggering multiple resignations in Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office as local investigators are blocked from accessing evidence. The DOJ says there is no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation and the Civil Rights Division will not assist, a departure from usual FBI practice that has drawn political scrutiny and disrupted the state-federal investigation dynamic.

DOJ Officials Quit in Protest Over Minnesota ICE Shooting Probe
politics1 month ago

DOJ Officials Quit in Protest Over Minnesota ICE Shooting Probe

Six senior leaders of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division (Criminal Section) resigned in protest after Harmeet Dhillon decided not to open a separate DOJ probe into the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, with the FBI taking over the investigation and escalating political tensions surrounding the case.

law-and-justice1 year ago

Ex-Kansas Detective Golubski Dies by Suicide on Trial's First Day

The Justice Department issued a statement following the death of Roger Golubski, who was due to face trial on serious charges. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher expressed regret that the case could not be publicly tried and acknowledged the lasting impact on those involved, urging respect for their privacy.

legal-civil-rights2 years ago

"Justice Department Takes Legal Action Against Tennessee for Discriminatory HIV Laws"

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by enforcing the state’s aggravated prostitution statute against people living with HIV. The department found that the statute subjects individuals with HIV to harsher criminal penalties solely because of their HIV status, leading to discrimination, increased homelessness, and unemployment. The lawsuit reflects the Justice Department’s commitment to ensuring that people living with HIV are not targeted because of their disability and aims to address the discrimination and outdated science behind the enforcement of state criminal laws based on HIV status.

Texas Prosecutor Dismisses 17 Indictments Against Austin Police Officers in George Floyd Protests
law-enforcement2 years ago

Texas Prosecutor Dismisses 17 Indictments Against Austin Police Officers in George Floyd Protests

The prosecutor in Austin, Texas, dismissed 17 indictments against police officers for their tactics during the 2020 George Floyd protests, while city officials are calling for a federal investigation into the Austin Police Department. The Travis County District Attorney will continue prosecuting four officers and has requested the Justice Department to conduct a "pattern-or-practice" investigation into the department's crowd control actions. The city has already paid over $18 million to settle civil lawsuits related to the protests, with eight suits still pending. The officers' lawyers claim the case was political and should have been a civil lawsuit instead.

Federal Investigation Launched into Trenton Police Department's Practices and Possible Civil Rights Violations
law-enforcement2 years ago

Federal Investigation Launched into Trenton Police Department's Practices and Possible Civil Rights Violations

The Justice Department has launched a civil pattern or practice investigation into the City of Trenton, New Jersey, and the Trenton Police Department (TPD) to determine if there are systemic violations of the Constitution and federal law. The investigation will focus on TPD's use of force, stops, searches, and arrests, and will include a comprehensive review of policies, training, supervision, and complaint procedures. The Justice Department aims to address any substantiated violations and restore trust between the police and the community. Officials have notified Trenton's mayor and police department, who have pledged to cooperate. The investigation will be conducted jointly by the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.