DOJ Finds Mississippi Police Department Unconstitutionally Jailed People for Unpaid Fines

The U.S. Department of Justice has identified unconstitutional practices in Lexington, Mississippi, where individuals were jailed without assessing their ability to pay fines.

• 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.

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