Overview

• The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division has launched a formal investigation into the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office over its new plea policy that incorporates racial identity into prosecutorial decision-making.
• The policy, titled 'Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants,' directs prosecutors to assess racial identity as part of addressing disparities in the criminal justice system.
• Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, alongside Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle and Attorney General Pam Bondi, outlined the investigation’s focus on potential constitutional violations.
• Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty defends the policy as constitutional, stating it aims to address systemic racial disparities without treating defendants differently based on race.
• The investigation follows the policy’s leak by internal employees, with the DOJ’s Special Litigation Section set to determine its legality and constitutionality.