The Department of Justice is heading a civil rights investigation into the Maryland State Police (MSP) over whether it engaged in racially discriminatory hiring and promotion practices.
The investigation will be conducted pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion.
Under that section of the law, the DOJ can investigate state and local government employers where it has reason to believe that a “pattern or practice” of employment discrimination exists.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland is also taking part in the investigation.