FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — The Ferguson City Council is asking the U.S. Department of Justice for changes to a deal to reform the city’s courts and policing systems, a move that drew swift criticism from both the department and many residents.
The council voted unanimously Tuesday night to amend the proposed settlement the city spent seven months negotiating with the DOJ. Several of the changes are intended to reduce the cost of implementing the agreement, which some worry could bankrupt the St. Louis suburb.
If the Justice Department doesn’t approve, a lawsuit is possible.
Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, says the department will take “the necessary legal actions” to ensure Ferguson’s police and court practices comply with the Constitution and federal laws.
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