The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the City of South Bend, alleging that the hiring process for entry-level police officers at the South Bend Police Department discriminates against Black and female applicants.
According to the DOJ, the lawsuit claims the department’s hiring practices violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, specifically by using a written exam that disproportionately impacts Black applicants and a physical fitness test that unfairly affects female candidates.
Title VII is a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion. The DOJ notes that the law applies not only to intentional discrimination but also to employment practices that create a disparate impact on a protected group, unless those practices are justified as job-related and necessary for business.
