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Justice Department settles over Lexington, Mississippi, police civil rights findings

A three-year agreement requires reforms in the Mississippi city of Lexington and its police department, which the DOJ found violated civil rights.

Updated Oct 17, 2026 · 06:11 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • The Justice Department announced a settlement forcing reforms in Lexington, Mississippi, and its police department.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • A 2024 DOJ report found the city court issued arrest warrants for more than 650 people over unpaid fines.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • The three-year agreement could be shortened or extended depending on whether the parties mutually determine compliance.[Associated Press · ABC News]

Key facts

  • The Justice Department announced a settlement on Friday requiring reforms in Lexington, Mississippi, and its police department.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • A 2024 DOJ report found the Lexington Police Department routinely violated civil rights, including discrimination against Black residents, excessive force, and retaliation against critics.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • The 2024 report found the city court issued arrest warrants for more than 650 people, roughly half the city's population, over unpaid fines.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • Between 2022 and 2024, the department made one arrest for every four people in town, more than 10 times Mississippi's per-capita arrest rate.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger said the reforms aim to address investigation concerns and strengthen public trust.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • The agreement is set to last three years but may be shortened or extended based on whether the parties mutually determine compliance has been reached.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • The DOJ opened its probe in 2023 after citizens accused officers of using roadblocks to target Black drivers, excessive force, and unjustified arrests, among other claims.[Associated Press · ABC News]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether the agreement is shortened or extended depends on a future mutual determination of compliance, which has not yet occurred.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • The citizen accusations that prompted the 2023 probe are allegations, not findings reported in the sources.[Associated Press · ABC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.