Inquiry Into Ferguson, Mo., Police Practices Is Just a Start - NYTimes.com

"But the investigation should not be limited to Ferguson. News accounts and a recent study of court systems in neighboring towns strongly suggest that the police in St. Louis County may be systematically targeting poor and minority citizens for street and traffic stops (in part to generate fines), which has the effect of criminalizing entire communities. This history of discriminatory stops and abuse fueled the protests and violence that erupted after Mr. Brown was gunned down.

In 1994, Congress gave the Justice Department the power to restructure troubled or corrupt police departments, after Los Angeles police officers were captured on video three years earlier beating up a black motorist, Rodney King."