This file photo from November 2014 shows St. Louis County police officers in riot gear, standing guard in front of the Ferguson police department after a grand jury decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown.

This file photo from November 2014 shows St. Louis County police officers in riot gear, standing guard in front of the Ferguson police department after a grand jury decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown.

Last year, a Saint Louis grand jury declined to indict officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. But the Justice Department launched its own investigation and yesterday we learned the results: No civil rights charges will be brought against Officer Wilson. But the Justice Department said it did find a pattern of bias and discrimination against African-Americans by Ferguson police and the courts. Blacks were twice as likely as whites to be searched at traffic stops, and local courts used heavy fines to send many black residents to jail. Diane and guests discuss the Justice Department’s report on Ferguson and what it means for civil rights and police departments around the country.

Guests

  • Carrie Johnson Justice correspondent, NPR
  • Jamelle Bouie Slate staff writer covering politics, policy, and race.
  • Ronald Hosko President, Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund; former Assistant Director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division
  • David Harris Professor of law, University of Pittsburgh
  • Emanuele Berry Race and culture reporter, St. Louis Public radio

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