Court reform in Ferguson

In an announcement Monday, Judge Donald McCullin announced a number of reforms to the municipal courts in Ferguson, Missouri. The American town near St. Louis saw widespread and often violent protests last year when a white police officer shot dead Michael Brown, a black man. Protests returned to Ferguson earlier this month when the town marked the one-year anniversary of the shooting.

The reforms announced by McCullin on the City of Ferguson's website said that "all arrest warrants issued before December 31, 2014" would be withdrawn. Defendants will receive new court dates and alternative dispositions, "such as payment plans, community service and/or commuting fines," the statement read. Changes to the conditions for pre-trial release have also been implemented.

"These changes should continue the process of restoring confidence in the court, alleviating fears of the consequences of appearing in court, and giving many residents a fresh start,” McCullin said.

McCullin's changes to Ferguson's courts follow recommendations by the US Justice Department made in a report that was issued in March. Then-US Attorney General Eric Holder said at the time that Ferguson's "policing and municipal court practices were found to harm African American residents disproportionately." The report itself said Ferguson's courts did not pursue charges brought by the local police "with the primary goal of administering justice or protecting the rights of the accused, but of maximizing revenue."

The municipal judge at the time the report was released, Ronald Brockmeyer, resigned a week after it was published. He was replaced by McCullin in June.