Mississippi News
Jackson: City settles in JPD roadblock lawsuit, agrees to federal oversight
City settles in JPD roadblock lawsuit, agrees to federal oversight
The City of Jackson has agreed to federal oversight of its roadblock policy in a settlement announced this week.
The lawsuit over the roadblock policy was filed in February by the Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ) and the MacArthur Justice Center, and has been in settlement negotiations since early March.
The Jackson Police Department calls the roadblock policy “Ticket Arrest Tow.” It is used around the city to check if drivers have valid licenses, insurance and registration. Police officials say the roadblocks also allow officers to see if a driver has an active warrant.
Under the terms of the settlement, roadblocks will be required to be evenly distributed across Jackson, may not be used for general crime control, and may only be implemented in specific circumstances relating to alcohol and drug consumption or high rates of car crashes. It also requires the Jackson Police Department to record and report data regarding its use of roadblocks and to distribute know-your-rights flyers at each checkpoint.
The federal court enforcement of this settlement will continue for the next four years.
Between Jan. 4 to March 18, Jackson police officers made 208 arrests – 10 for felonies, 198 for misdemeanors – from its roadblocks, according to information obtained through a public records request shared with MCJ.
During that period, Jackson police officers also issued 1,149 citations and towed 186 vehicles.
Members of the Mississippi Alliance for Public Safety, who reached out to MCJ about the roadblock issues, spoke with over 80 people in South and West Jackson, where they said they’d heard most of the roadblocks were occurring, and found many had negative experiences.
People said they felt inconvenienced and unable to move in and out of their communities. Alliance members heard a story about a mother who walked home with her children in the rain because her car was towed after going through a checkpoint.
Timothy Halcomb, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said he got involved after his experience with a roadblock in his community in South Jackson.
‘We live in a poor neighborhood, but that doesn’t make us criminals,” Halcomb said at a press conference Friday. “Why are they doing this to us?”
READ MORE: JPD roadblock lawsuit: Plaintiffs, city in settlement negotiations
Cliff Johnson, director of the MacArthur Justice Center, said he believes this policy was borne out of concern about violent crime, but police officers address the problem by focusing their efforts on minor crimes.
“One thing I would urge the residents of Jackson to think about is, when we demand action from the police, we need to be careful what we ask for because we just might get it,” Johnson said.
Johnson offered compliments to the city on its handling of the lawsuit for their willingness to negotiate, and in doing so, for saving the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation fees.
The legal team said their goal was to have roadblocks completely eliminated, citing a body of evidence that roadblocks disproportionately impact poorer residents and do not meaningfully reduce crime. While this goal was not achieved, they said the settlement reduces harm to residents and they will continue to monitor Jackson’s adherence to it.
“While we continue to hold Jackson accountable for civil rights violations just as we would any other police department across the state, we do so because we want this capital city to be great, we believe that it can be,” Johnson said. “I believe that the settlement we’ve announced today, and the people who’ve put it together in the way they have, is really good news that we are moving in the right direction.”
Paloma Wu, MCJ’s deputy director of impact litigation, said they also have evidence that roadblock policies are a problem across the state, one she intends to continue pursuing.
“(Roadblocks) waste precious police resources needed for responding to violent crime, and make poor residents poorer without making them safer,” Wu said.
Editor’s note: Vangela M. Wade, president and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Justice, is a member of Mississippi Today’s board of directors.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Defendant in Mississippi auditor’s ‘second largest’ embezzlement case in history goes free
SUMMARY: Four years ago, Tunica nonprofit operator Mardis Jones was arrested for allegedly embezzling over $1 million from a county home rehabilitation program funded by casino revenue. The state auditor accused Jones of misusing funds meant to help vulnerable residents, claiming little money reached contractors. Jones’ defense cited poor program administration and insufficient evidence of theft, with a jury ultimately acquitting him last month. Despite the criminal acquittal, the auditor’s office demanded repayment through a civil claim, which the attorney general’s office had yet to act on, but recently confirmed receipt of the demand letter. The case highlights issues in government oversight and program management.
The post Defendant in Mississippi auditor’s ‘second largest’ embezzlement case in history goes free appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: June 27-29
SUMMARY: This weekend (June 27-29) in Mississippi offers a variety of events across the state. Central Mississippi hosts the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Golf Tournament, multiple hot air balloon events including the Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Festival in Canton, and exhibitions like Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers in Jackson. There are also family-friendly activities such as Guys and Dolls Jr. in Natchez, Pilates and yoga events in Jackson, and farmers markets in Jackson, Natchez, and Vicksburg. The Pine Belt region features Story Time with a Soldier in Hattiesburg, immersive theater experiences, karaoke, and runs supporting recovery programs in Laurel.
The post Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: June 27-29 appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Traveling for July Fourth? When to expect the worst traffic, busiest airports
SUMMARY: With the Fourth of July on a Friday, AAA expects a record 72.2 million Americans to travel domestically over the long weekend, including 61.6 million by car—a 2.2% increase from last year. Busiest driving days are July 2 and 6, with afternoon hours the most congested. Major highways in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and New York will see peak traffic. AAA advises early departures and vehicle maintenance. TSA anticipates 5.84 million air travelers during the week, a 1.4% increase, with July 6 the busiest airport day. Popular destinations include Orlando, Seattle, and New York, while Vancouver tops international spots.
The post Traveling for July Fourth? When to expect the worst traffic, busiest airports appeared first on www.wjtv.com
-
Mississippi Today5 days ago
Defendant in auditor’s ‘second largest’ embezzlement case in history goes free
-
Our Mississippi Home6 days ago
From ‘I’m Bored’ to ‘Let’s Explore’: A Summer Scavenger Hunt Through Mississippi History
-
News from the South - Missouri News Feed7 days ago
Residents provide feedback in Kearney Street Corridor redevelopment meeting
-
News from the South - Texas News Feed7 days ago
The Rio Grande Valley as Heart of LGBTQ+ Resistance and Joy
-
News from the South - Louisiana News Feed7 days ago
Louisiana’s energy efficiency ‘slush fund’: $80 million, few rules
-
News from the South - Georgia News Feed4 days ago
Are you addicted to ‘fridge cigarettes’? Here’s what the Gen Z term means
-
News from the South - Florida News Feed6 days ago
Marcos Lopez arrest: Owner of club named in RICO document
-
News from the South - Texas News Feed6 days ago
Country singer’s teeth fall out on stage