Who Investigates the Sheriff? In Mississippi, Often No One.
The New York Times, December 28, 2023: Who Investigates the Sheriff? In Mississippi, Often No One.
“There was no news coverage and no state investigation. In an interview, Sheriff Kemp said he had turned the case over to the state’s police agency. But the agency could find no record of having pursued it.
“That is not unusual in Mississippi, where allegations like those leveled against Sheriff Kemp often go nowhere, an investigation by The New York Times and the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today has found.
“State authorities are responsible for investigating shootings and in-custody deaths involving sheriffs and deputies. But they are not obligated to investigate other potential wrongdoing by sheriffs’ offices, and may not even know about it: The sheriffs’ offices are also not obligated to report incidents to them.
“The Times and Mississippi Today examined dozens of publicly available federal lawsuits that described severe brutality and other abuses of power, reviewing thousands of pages of court records and interviewing people involved in cases across the state.
“At least 27 claims do not appear to have led to a state investigation, including accusations of rape, brutal assault and retaliation against sheriffs’ enemies.
“Many of the lawsuits depicted incidents that had eyewitnesses or significant physical evidence. Some included transcripts of deputies admitting under oath to troubling conduct. All but five of the cases were settled, according to court files that do not disclose the financial terms.”
Additional reading:
Business Insider, December 16, 2023: Mississippi sheriff overseeing violent department faces yet another lawsuit after another man dies in custody
AP, December 1, 2023: Mississippi sheriff changes policies after violent abuse. Victims say it’s to escape accountability
NBC News, June 28, 2023: Mississippi sheriff's deputies fired after Black men allege torture and attempted sexual assault in $400 million lawsuit
