Just over six months since the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown Jr. at the hands of former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, the Justice Department is expected to conclude that local authorities engaged in discriminatory enforcement during traffic stops and arrests involving blacks.
Two Justice officials, who were not authorized to discuss the outcome of the investigation publicly and requested anonymity, discussed the matter. The New York Times was the first to report the expected conclusions.
The conclusions, expected to be disclosed as soon as this week, are part of a long-awaited examination of policing in Ferguson, where the August shooting of Michael Brown prompted waves of sustained protests across the country and a national re-examination of local law enforcement’s relationship with minority communities.
An alleged pattern and practice of discriminatory policing being reviewed by the DOJ was first announced in September and is aimed at forcing change through a settlement with the city or through legal action.
The broad civil rights review is separate from the government’s inquiry into the Aug. 9 incident in which white officer Wilson fatally shot Brown, 18. Officials have said that inquiry is expected to result in no charges against Wilson, who has since left the department.
A St. Louis County grand jury also elected not to indict Wilson in the shooting.
In announcing the policing inquiry in September, Attorney General Eric Holder said the authorities were examining all aspects of law enforcement in the city.
“This investigation will be conducted both rigorously and in a timely manner, so we can move forward as expeditiously as possible to restore trust, rebuild understanding and foster cooperation between law enforcement and community members,” Holder said.
Last month, Holder indicated that results of the Ferguson reviews were imminent, as he sought to disclose the government’s findings before he left office in the next few weeks.
Information from The Associated Press and The New York Times contributed to this report.