{"id":21475,"date":"2016-03-18T12:03:24","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T19:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=21475"},"modified":"2016-03-18T12:03:24","modified_gmt":"2016-03-18T19:03:24","slug":"feds-ferguson-cops-will-undergo-bias-awareness-training-uphold-constitutional-rights-get-close-supervision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=21475","title":{"rendered":"Feds: Ferguson Cops Will Undergo “Bias Awareness” Training, Uphold Constitutional Rights and Get Closer Public Scrutiny"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 WASHINGTON D.C.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"DepartmentThe U.S. Justice Department finally reached an agreement with the beleaguered city of Ferguson making sure that police officers protect the constitutional rights of citizens; that there is oversight of the police department and that there is an avenue to protect citizens who file complaints against the police, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

The agreement was reached Thursday resolving months of negotiations and haggling between federal prosecutors and Ferguson officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe American people must be able to trust that their courts and law enforcement will uphold, protect, and defend their constitutional rights,\u201d said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. \u00a0\u201cThe filing of this agreement marks the beginning of a process that the citizens of Ferguson have long awaited \u2013 the process of ensuring that they receive the rights and protections guaranteed to every American under the law.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Department Justice’s investigation found after an investigation of the Ferguson Police Department and the city’s courts’ system a pattern and practice of discrimination and serious violations of constitutional rights, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The department\u2019s findings were released in a public report issued March 4, 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

The investigation uncovered serious violations of the Fourth Amendment by conducting stops without reasonable suspicion and arrests without probable cause, as well as using excessive force; violating the First Amendment by interfering with the right to free expression and the right to record public police activity; and violating the 14th Amendment by engaging in racial discrimination, in both police and related court activity, as well as violating individuals\u2019 due process and equal protection rights in court.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The civil investigation was conducted by attorneys and staff from the Civil Rights Division\u2019s Special Litigation Section.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the agreement, officials said Ferguson will implement reforms to bring about “constitutional and effective policing, promote officer and public safety, ensure fundamental fairness and equal treatment regardless of race in the municipal court and foster greater trust between police officers and the communities they serve.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The agreement includes the following terms:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n