Under President Barack Obama, the Justice Department opened investigations into 25 law enforcement agencies and negotiated court-enforced settlements with most of the cities. Trump's nominee to lead the Justice Department, Jeff Sessions, has expressed concerns about using such an aggressive approach. Political appointees at the Justice Department could argue for altering many of the procedures favored by Obama appointees, but career staffers could also push for continuity. ———OTHER CITIESThe Justice Department has conducted civil rights investigations of nearly 70 police departments since 1994, when Congress authorized them. The Justice Department's scathing report found that Ferguson's police and court systems generated city revenue through fines levied on black residents, among other abuses.

Source: ABC News January 12, 2017 22:57 UTC