Terry S. Johnson, Civil Rights Violations, North Carolina 2022

Table of Contents

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Alamance County Sheriff’s Office

The Justice Department has filed a civil rights lawsuit against Terry S. Johnson, the head of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) in North Carolina, alleging that the agency routinely discriminates against and targets Latinos for enforcement action.

The complaint, filed in federal court, alleges that ACSO engages in a pattern or practice of discriminatory policing against Latinos in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.

The lawsuit follows a comprehensive investigation of ACSO’s police practices, which included interviews with over 125 individuals, a review of ACSO policies and procedures, and analysis of data on traffic stops, arrests, citations, vehicle checkpoints, and other documentary evidence.

The complaint alleges that ACSO deputies unlawfully target Latino drivers for traffic stops, arresting them for minor traffic violations while issuing citations or warnings to non-Latinos for comparable violations.

The complaint also alleges that ACSO uses jail booking and detention practices, including practices related to immigration status checks, that discriminate against Latinos.

According to the complaint, these discriminatory practices are deeply rooted in a culture that begins with Sheriff Johnson and permeates the entire agency.

The Justice Department seeks a court-enforceable, comprehensive written agreement that will ensure long-term structural, cultural, and institutional change at ACSO.

Members of the Alamance County community who wish to provide information to the Department may call 1-877-871-9726 or email .

Terry S. Johnson is the defendant in this lawsuit, and the exact criminal charges filed against him are civil rights violations. The city and state are Burlington, North Carolina. The exact date of the crime is not specified in the source, but the lawsuit was filed on an unspecified date. The sentence or outcome is ongoing litigation. There are no dollar amounts mentioned in the source.

Related Federal Cases