DOJ Baltimore Consent Decree Documents Pattern of Racist Policing

The DOJ's consent decree with Baltimore, entered April 7, 2017, documented systematic constitutional violations by the Baltimore Police Department including: racially discriminatory stops (44% of pedestrian stops in two Black neighborhoods accounting for less than 12% of city population); use of force against those posing no threat; retaliatory force against those exercising First Amendment rights; and unlawful arrests. The decree required extensive reforms. It followed the Obama DOJ's 2016 investigation triggered by Freddie Gray's death. The Trump DOJ initially sought to delay implementation but a federal judge required it proceed.