Ferguson
LESSONS FROM FERGUSON: WHAT EVERY MUNICIPAL COURT NEEDS TO KNOW
The tragic events of 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri in the wake of the shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson, not only triggered protests and civil disorder, placed a community of 20,000 people at the center of vigorous debate in the United States about the relationship between law enforcement officers and African Americans, the militarization of the police, and the use of force doctrine in Missouri and nationwide.
In response to the shooting and subsequent unrest, the U.S. Department of Justice conducted an investigation into the policing practices of the Ferguson Police Department. In March 2015, the U.S. Justice Department announced that they had determined that the Ferguson Police Department had engaged in misconduct against the citizenry of Ferguson, by discriminating against African-Americans and applying racial stereotypes, in a "pattern or practice of unlawful conduct." While the conclusions of the 100 page report pertaining to law enforcement priorities were widely reported, media account predominantly focused on law enforcement practices. The report also detailed practices in the municipal court that that imposed substantial and unnecessary barriers to defendants that undermined the court, eroded community trust, contributed to making policing less effective, and ultimately devastated the City of Ferguson.
As the City of Ferguson works to rebuild a community that is damaged in multiple ways, TMCEC believes that the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s report provides insights that may prevent other cities throughout the United States from experiencing similar tragedies. Please share and explore the following related new and resources.
RELATED NEWS AND RESOURCES
(Last updated 7/11/2016)
6/15/2016
National Public Radio - Murder Rate Spike Could Be ‘Ferguson, Effect’ DOJ Study Says
5/24/2016
Reuters - Ferguson city attorney steps down after criticism
5/17/2016
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Judge hands down two more not guilty verdicts in cases stemming from Ferguson protests
5/10/2016
CNN - Ferguson swears in new police chief
5/9/2016
Reuters - Ferguson, Missouri police to stress safety, not fines: new chief
4/29/2016
4/7/2016
TMCEC Webinar Presentation by Ryan Turner, General Counsel & Director of Education, TMCEC - Lessons from Ferguson: What Every Municipal Court Needs to Know
4/6/2016
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Ferguson faces financial challenges after split decision on taxes
Huffington Post - Ferguson Vote Throws DOJ Reforms Into Doubt
3/30/2016
ABC News - Ferguson Settlement Could Be in Jeopardy if Tax Hike Fails
3/29/2016
St. Louis Public Radio - Judge deals big blow to Ferguson-inspired municipal overhaul
3/23/2016
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Happy with your municipal court? Maybe that’s because it’s an affluent community.
3/14/2016
U.S Department of Justice Civil Rights Division - DOJ Letter to Courts
2/11/2016
Frontline - Could Ferguson Win its Case Against the Justice Department?
2/8/2016
Fox 2 St. Louis - DOJ agreement could cost Ferguson $3.7 million in first year
1/19/2015
TMCEC Webinar Presentation by Ryan Turner, General Counsel & Director of Education, TMCEC - Have You Heard the Buzz: Commitment to the Commitment Order
12/16/2015
Associate Press - Ferguson, Justice Department close to agreement
11/17/2015
Nonprofit Quarterly - Reminiscent of Ferguson: Settlement Ends Local "Debtor's Prison' Bail and Fine Practices
Time - Attorney General Says There's No Data to Support 'Ferguson Effect'
9/14/2015
Ferguson Commission Recommendations - Forward Through Ferguson: A Path Toward Racial Equity
8/24/2015
National Public Radio - New Ferguson Judge Overhauls Municipal Courts
8/25/2015
The Atlantic - A Judge's Order Overhauls Ferguson's Municipal Courts
8/23/2015
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Muni court reform law takes effect Friday; many warrants, fines are being canceled early
7/9/2015
State of Missouri - SB 5 Modifies distribution of traffic fines and court costs collected by municipal courts
4/7/2015
Fox 2 News - Former Ferguson court clerk fires-back after termination over racist e-mails
Los Angeles Times - Ferguson voters turn out to elect 2 more black City Council members
4/3/2015
The Washington Post - These are the racially charged e-mails that got 3 Ferguson police and court officials fired
3/4/2015
The Washington Post - The 12 key highlights from the DOJ’s scathing Ferguson report
U.S Department of Justice Civil Rights Division - Investigation of the Ferguson Police Department
8/24/2014/ (updated 8/10/2015)
New York Times - Q&A: What Happened in Ferguson?
2/8/2015
New York Times - Ferguson One of 2 Missouri Suburbs Sued Over Gantlet of Traffic Fines and Jail