 Civilian review boards tend to focus on individual complaints, rather than broader organizational issues that may result in long-term improvements.The 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act authorized the United States Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division to bring civil ("pattern or practice") suits against local law enforcement agencies, to reign in abuses and hold them accountable.As a result, numerous departments have entered into consent decrees or memoranda of understanding, requiring them to make organizational reforms.