The US Department of Justice does some of this. They sue for civil rights violations, often resulting in a &quot;consent decree&quot; where they either take over the police department or place them under a variety of restrictions.<p>Ferguson just agreed to one: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.npr.org&#x2F;sections&#x2F;thetwo-way&#x2F;2016&#x2F;01&#x2F;27&#x2F;464610005&#x2F;ferguson-justice-unveil-draft-of-negotiated-consent-decree" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.npr.org&#x2F;sections&#x2F;thetwo-way&#x2F;2016&#x2F;01&#x2F;27&#x2F;464610005&#x2F;...</a>