The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday that the City of Lexington, Miss., and the Lexington Police Department (LPD) have engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law. The investigation found the LPD unlawfully arrests, jails, and detains people who cannot pay fines or fees without assessing their ability to pay, uses excessive force, and discriminates against Black residents, among other civil rights violations.

Lexington, a town of approximately 1,200 people located about an hour from Jackson, Miss., has been found to impose unlawful arrests and jailing practices, including using “investigative holds” without probable cause and arresting people solely due to outstanding fines. The Justice Department also reported that LPD imposes money bail without justification, denies prompt court access, retaliates against individuals exercising free speech, and operates under a conflict of interest because its funding relies on enforcement.

“Today’s findings show that the Lexington Police Department abandoned its sacred position of trust in the community by routinely violating the constitutional rights of those it was sworn to protect,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Being poor is not a crime, but practices like these amount to punishing people for poverty. People in that community deserve better, and the Justice Department is committed to working with them, the City and the Police Department to make the city safer for all its citizens.”

The investigation found that LPD’s enforcement strategy over the past two years has led to nearly one arrest for every four people in town, primarily for low-level offenses, a rate over ten times higher than the state average. Many arrests were for non-criminal conduct, such as paying fines or using profanity, disproportionately affecting Black residents. In 2023, Black people were 17.6 times more likely to be arrested by LPD than white residents.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco added, “The Lexington Police Department’s incarceration of individuals because they could not afford to pay fines undermined public confidence and violated the civil rights of Lexington residents.”

According to the Justice Department, LPD lacks accountability systems, and those accused often lack access to legal counsel, allowing misconduct to continue unchecked. The investigation also revealed several troubling incidents, such as officers breaking down a man’s door to arrest him for swearing and tasing a man nine times for allegedly disturbing a business.

“Lexington’s approach to policing has wreaked havoc through excessive force, racially discriminatory practices, and retaliatory behavior,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “For too long, the Lexington Police Department has been playing by its own rules and operating with impunity — it’s time for this to end.”

The investigation began on Nov. 8, 2023, and included extensive reviews of LPD’s records, body-worn camera footage, interviews with officials, and input from community members. While the investigation was ongoing, the Justice Department issued a letter to the city expressing concern over its practices.

The City and LPD have cooperated fully and are committed to working with the Justice Department to address the violations.

The Justice Department conducted the investigation under Section 12601, which allows for legal action against law enforcement agencies that engage in unconstitutional conduct. The department is committed to ensuring fair and constitutional policing, similar to its work following the 2015 findings on the Ferguson, Mo., Police Department, which led to significant reform.