Ferguson police in the U.S have been found to have routinely violated the civil rights of the city's black residents.

A Justice Department civil rights investigation has concluded that police and the city's court targeted them disproportionately.

The probe is the result of an investigation ordered by Attorney General Eric Holder after the police shooting that killed Michael Brown last year.

The Justice Department is expected to pursue a court-supervised consent decree that requires the city of Ferguson to make changes to its police and courts.

In the findings, African Americans were disproportionately cited for minor infractions and were 68% less  likely to have their cases dismissed by a judge.

Investigators also found evidence of racist jokes being sent around by Ferguson police and court officials.