Does DOJ investigate every complaint to see if there is a pattern or practice violation?
In our initial review of an allegation of police misconduct, we assess whether the allegation, if proven, would establish a violation of a federal law the Department has authority to enforce. We also assess whether the allegation potentially could constitute a pattern or practice violation. We are aware that sporadic bad incidents or the actions of the occasional bad officer do not constitute a pattern or practice of misconduct. In fact, most of the complaints we receive involve such individual claims of misconduct by a specific officer or officers. Unless there is information indicating a pattern of misconduct or systemic practices underlying the misconduct, these individual incidents do not fall within our pattern or practice investigation authority. We take no further action and either close the matter or, if appropriate, refer the complaint to the DOJ offices with responsibility for handling these claims. (Individual claims may be investigated to determine if there is a criminal ci
Related Questions
- If DOJ opens a pattern or practice investigation and concludes that there isn a violation or that litigation isn warranted, do you notify the police department?
- Does DOJ investigate every complaint to see if there is a pattern or practice violation?
- What does DOJ look at in pattern or practice investigations?
