Overview

• The Justice Department's investigation into the Lexington Police Department revealed violations of the Fourteenth Amendment by jailing people for unpaid fines without considering their financial capacity.
• Local leaders in Lexington have pledged to work with the DOJ to reform their practices following the investigation's findings.
• The ongoing probe into Lexington police misconduct includes allegations of excessive force, discriminatory policing, and First Amendment violations.
• About 80% of Lexington's population is Black, and the city is located in one of the nation's poorest counties, with a poverty rate nearing 30%.
• The DOJ's actions aim to end a two-tiered justice system where a person's income determines their freedom, addressing the cycle of poverty and punishment.