The probe is
the result of an investigation ordered by Attorney General Eric Holder
after the police shooting that killed Michael Brown last summer.
Among
the findings, reviewed by CNN: from 2012 to 2014, 85% of people subject
to vehicle stops by Ferguson police were African-American; 90% of those
who received citations were black; and 93% of people arrested were
black. This while 67% of the Ferguson population is black.
In
88% of the cases in which the Ferguson police reported using force, it
was against African-Americans. During the period 2012-2014 black drivers
were twice as likely as white drivers to be searched during traffic
stops, but 26% less likely to be found in possession of contraband.
Blacks
were disproportionately more likely to be cited for minor infractions:
95% of tickets for "manner of walking in roadway," essentially
jaywalking, were against African-Americans. Also, 94% of all "failure to
comply" charges were filed against black people.
The findings in the investigation are
expected to be made public as soon as Wednesday, and the Justice
Department is expected to pursue a court-supervised consent decree that
requires the city of Ferguson to make changes to its police and courts.
According
to the findings, reviewed by CNN, African-Americans were 68% less
likely to have their cases dismissed by a Ferguson municipal judge, and
were overwhelmingly more likely to be arrested during traffic stops
solely for an outstanding warrant by the Ferguson courts.
The
investigators found evidence of racist jokes being sent around by
Ferguson police and court officials. One November 2008 email read in
part that President Barack Obama wouldn't likely be President for long
because "what black man holds a steady job for four years."
Another
jokes that made the rounds on Ferguson government email in May 2011
said: "An African American woman in New Orleans was admitted into the
hospital for a pregnancy termination. Two weeks later she received a
check for $3,000. She phoned the hospital to ask who it was from. The
hospital said: 'Crimestoppers.'"
Ferguson officials said in a statement that they were still reviewing the findings, and would make a statement on Wednesday.
I am Jack's Complete lack of surprise...
