FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1996                          (202) 616-2777
					       TDD (202) 514-1888

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Louisiana State Police will work to create a new entrance exam for state police cadets that will measure abilities for the job and not discriminate against African Americans, under an agreement reached today with the Justice Department.

In a complaint, filed together with the settlement today in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge, the Justice Department alleged that the State, its Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and its Police Commission engaged in discriminatory testing on the basis of race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

"Everyone should have an equal opportunity to get a job," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick. "Today's agreement tears down artificial barriers to employment and provides relief to those aggrieved."

The Justice Department, which began looking into the State Police's employment practices in 1992, asserted that it used an entry-level written test for state police cadets that dispro- portionately excluded blacks from consideration for employment and that was not predictive of successful job performance.

Under the agreement, the State Police will not discriminate in employment, continue its active recruitment efforts for cadets, not use any test or other selection procedure that violates Title VII, and contract with consultants to develop a written exam that is both job related and minimizes adverse impact against African Americans.

The State Police also will create a $1 million fund to provide back pay to identified victims and give priority to victims for the first job openings that occur. Only individuals who are deemed otherwise qualified will be eligible to partake in the compensation fund or receive job relief.

The agreement, which must still be approved by the court, will be in effect for five years.

# # #

96-421