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On June 9, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section began investigating the Louisiana State Police (LSP) to determine if the LSP's officers employed excessive force and if its policing practices were racially discriminatory. As described in the DOJ press release, its investigation included a "comprehensive review of LSP policies, training, supervision, and force investigations, as well as LSP’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline," to evaluate their compliance with the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the DOJ can sue state and local governments that have a pattern or practice of violating the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and federal law. The investigation was scheduled to last for a minimum of 18 months.
On May 21, 2025, the Department of Justice, under the Trump Administration, announced it was closing the investigation and retracting its findings of constitutional violations. The investigation is now closed.
Summary Authors
Nina Gerdes (4/17/2023)
Avery Coombe (10/7/2025)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:29 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Reversing Course on Existing Litigation
Key Dates
Closing Date: May 21, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The Special Litigation Section of the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.
Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act, 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 14141)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Unreasonable search and seizure
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Race(s):
Policing: