What does "pattern or practice" refer to in civil rights enforcement?

"Pattern or practice" refers to an established trend of discriminatory practices within an organization or industry. This concept is essential in civil rights enforcement, particularly in cases involving discrimination based on race, gender, age, or other protected classifications. When a particular organization engages in a pattern or practice of discrimination, it means that the discriminatory behavior is not just isolated incidents but rather a consistent and recurring aspect of its operations. This allows for broader legal action, enabling enforcement agencies to challenge systemic discrimination that affects a group of individuals, rather than focusing solely on individual cases.

By recognizing the significance of widespread discriminatory practices, legal frameworks aim to eliminate not only individual acts of discrimination but also the underlying policies or practices that facilitate such behavior. This focus on systemic issues is crucial for civil rights protection, ensuring that change can be enacted at an organizational level rather than merely addressing singular instances of bias.