The U.S. Justice Department is stepping up its scrutiny of at least 15 troubled police departments across the country.

Since the start of the Obama administration, Perez's lawyers have launched investigations all over the country, from Seattle to Newark to New Orleans.

"I think what we're doing differently in this administration, aside from doing more of it is, I think we're doing it in a much more strategic way, with a focus on systemic reform," Perez says.

That means asking law enforcement to track how many minorities they stop and frisk, and how many times police use guns or other weapons against suspects.

Craig Futterman represents victims of law enforcement abuse at a law clinic he runs at the University of Chicago.

"The newer interventions now in New Orleans and Newark are signs of renewed commitment by the federal government and Department of Justice," Futterman says.

There's really no one else who can do the job, since victims of law enforcement abuse don't want to go to the same local police that employ their alleged abusers.

"It's the age-old question of who polices the police?" Futterman says.


Link:
http://www.npr.org/2011/06/12/136896719/policing-the-police-u-s-steps-up-enforcement