"The provisions of this Agreement are meant to ensure protection of the constitutional and other legal rights of all members of the community, improve Ferguson’s ability to effectively prevent crime, enhance both officer and public safety, and increase public confidence in the Ferguson Police Department (FPD)," the consent decree, released on the city website on Wednesday, says.
The agreement stipulates, among other things, the creation of a civilian board to review complaints against the police and allows videotaping when a law enforcement officer asks for consent to conduct a search.
The consent decree still needs to be approved by the City Council. Three public hearings have been scheduled ahead of the February 9 Council vote.
Ferguson police came under harsh scrutiny after Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old African American teenager was fatally shot in the city in August 2014, by white police officer Darren Wilson. A grand jury decided not to indict Wilson.
The shooting, which was one of a number of cases where white officers shot African Americans, sparked massive protests and a nationwide debate on police brutality and racial profiling by US law enforcement officials.
