How does a law enforcement agency avoid a pattern or practice investigation — or at least avoid a lawsuit?
The Civil Rights Division has found that law enforcement agencies that have designed, implemented and enforced an effective program to prevent, detect, and ensure accountability for incidents of misconduct and other civil rights violations are unlikely to violate the pattern or practice statutes. The Department of Justice has helped focus attention on these issues through the publication in January 2001 of a guide to “Principles for Promoting Police Integrity” with examples of promising police practices and policies (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/lawenforcement/policeintegrity. We recognize that law enforcement agencies differ in responsibilities, size and structure, as well as in the communities they serve. We encourage thoughtful creativity in the design and implementation of accountability systems addressed to the needs of a particular agency. Still, we have found some common denominators, which are reflected in our settlements with Cincinnati, the District of Columbia, Los Angeles, New Jersey,
