{"id":39149,"date":"2013-06-28T15:55:08","date_gmt":"2013-06-28T22:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theavtimes.com\/?p=39149"},"modified":"2013-07-01T13:51:37","modified_gmt":"2013-07-01T20:51:37","slug":"doj-alleges-racial-discrimination-in-antelope-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2013\/06\/28\/doj-alleges-racial-discrimination-in-antelope-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"UPDATED: DOJ alleges racial discrimination in Antelope Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Residents<\/a>
Residents packed the Center of Light Church in Lancaster in Dec. 2011 for a chance to speak with DOJ attorneys and investigators. The findings of the lengthy investigation were revealed on June 28, 2013.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ANTELOPE VALLEY \u2013 The Justice Department Civil Rights Division on Friday (June 28) released a letter detailing its findings that Los Angeles County Sheriff\u2019s Department\u2019s (LASD) Lancaster and Palmdale stations engaged in a pattern or practice of stops, searches, and seizures and excessive force in violation of the Constitution and federal law.<\/p>\n

In addition, the Justice Department found a pattern or practice of discrimination against African Americans in its enforcement of the Housing Choice Voucher Program (commonly known as Section 8), in violation of the Fair Housing Act.\u00a0 The investigation, launched on Aug. 19, 2011, was brought under to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the federal Fair Housing Act.<\/p>\n

\"DOJ's<\/a>
DOJ’s findings revealed a widespread use of unlawful backseat detentions violating the Fourth Amendment and LASD policy, DOJ authorities said.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The findings were based on a comprehensive investigation of LASD\u2019s Antelope Valley stations, that included an in-depth review of documents and data provided by LASD and the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (HACoLA), as well as extensive community engagement.<\/p>\n

The division reviewed tens of thousands of pages of documents, including written policies and procedures, training materials, arrest reports and civilian complaints.\u00a0 The division also conducted interviews of Antelope Valley deputies and unit commanders, local government officials and hundreds of community members.<\/p>\n

The investigation also included statistical analyses of the Antelope Valley stations\u2019 search and seizure data of pedestrian and vehicle contacts for the entire calendar year of 2011.<\/p>\n

The division\u2019s investigation into the Antelope Valley stations findings include:<\/strong><\/p>\n