Structural Reform Litigation in American Police Departments

Drawing on original interviews, court documents, statistical data, and media reports, this article describes the Justice Department’s use of structural reform litigation to combat unconstitutional misconduct in American police departments. It also identifies the benefits and drawbacks of structural reform litigation in police departments relative to other legal mechanisms. It concludes by showing how the lessons from structural reform litigation can inform future regulations of law enforcement. 

Citation: Structural Reform Litigation in American Police Departments, 99 Minnesota Law Review 1383 (2015)