Lexington, Mississippi police department to undergo reforms following DOJ settlement

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with the City of Lexington and its police department in Mississippi to mandate reforms following findings of routine civil rights violations. A 2024 DOJ report indicated that the department discriminated against Black residents, used excessive force, and retaliated against critics.

The settlement addresses several systemic issues, including the use of low-level arrests to generate revenue for the department. The agreement prohibits the city from jailing individuals for unpaid fines without first assessing their ability to pay, a practice the DOJ noted violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Previously, the city court had issued arrest warrants for approximately half of the city's population due to unpaid fees.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Lexington Police Department must dismiss all existing warrants for unlawful fine-based convictions and expunge related records. Additionally, the city is barred from implementing quota or incentive systems for stops, citations, or arrests intended to drive revenue.