What to know about the Southern Poverty Law Center

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is under a U.S. Justice Department criminal investigation over its past use of paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups. Founded in 1971 by Morris Dees and Joe Levin to support civil rights, the SPLC expanded in the 1980s to monitor hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, which retaliated with a 1983 fire attack on its offices. The organization claims its informant program, which shared data with law enforcement, prevented violence and saved lives.