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Jackson Crime Stats for Mar. 23-29

Data for this week will be available Wednesday, Apr. 8.

Major crimes in Jackson declined at the end of March for the second week in a row, according to data released by the Jackson Police Department yesterday. JPD's weekly crime report (PDF) shows a 4.7 percent decrease in major crimes, as the number of total property crimes dropped slightly and violent crimes stayed roughly even with the week of Mar. 16-22. Precinct 1 in South Jackson and Precinct 3 in Northwest Jackson reported increases in property crimes of 57 percent and 39 percent, respectively. Northeast Jackson's Precinct 4, the poorest performing precinct in the previous week, showed a dramatic decrease in property crime, mostly due to a sharp drop in auto burglaries, from 38 to 17.

Bodyguard's Attorney Wants DOJ Meeting

Also see: Full JFP Melton Blog/Archive/Trial

An attorney for former mayoral bodyguard Michael Recio has asked the Department of Justice to reconsider its prosecution of the Jackson police officer. In May, federal prosecutors will try for the second time to convict Recio and Mayor Frank Melton on civil rights charges related to the 2006 destruction of a private house on Ridgeway Street. Recio and Melton were acquitted on state charges for the incident in 2007. Their first federal trial for the demolition ended in a hung jury last month.

Bill Funds Cybercrime Unit

Yesterday, legislators sent Senate Bill 2978 to Gov. Haley Barbour for his signature, which will increase by $1 fines for certain misdemeanors and felonies by $1 to help fund the attorney general's cybercrime unit, reports wmctv.com.

Domestic Violence Bills Signed

Gov. Haley Barbour signed two bills addressing issues of domestic violence into law this session, both of which drafted by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.

Bill Delays Paroled Killer's Release

Douglas Hodgkin, convicted murderer of pregnant Ole Miss student Jean Elizabeth Gillies, will remain behind bars—at least temporarily—as a result of a bill signed into law by Gov. Haley Barbour today.

Jackson Crime Stats for Mar. 9-15

Data for this week will be available Wednesday, Mar. 25.

Major crimes in Jackson increased slightly for the second week in a row from Mar. 9 through Mar. 15, although the city saw a decrease in violent crime from the previous week. According to the Jackson Police Department's weekly crime statistics report (PDF), property crimes increased 27 percent, largely on the strength of an increase in auto burglaries, especially in Precinct 4, which covers Northeast Jackson. Violent crime decreased in every precinct except Precinct 1, which serves South Jackson.

Law Enforcement Needs to Release Info

Five weeks. That's how long it's been since Dr. Mark Pogue and his fiancée, Dr. Lisa Dedousis, died in flames after the Mercedes driven by Karen Irby crossed into their lane on Old Canton Road Feb. 11, hitting their pickup truck head on.

Governor Signs DNA Bill

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour signed SB 2709 into law yesterday. The bill mandates that the state preserve DNA evidence and conduct DNA testing on biological evidence.

Jackson Crime Increases Slightly in Early March

Data for this week will be available on Wednesday, Mar. 18.

Major crimes in Jackson increased slightly in the first week of March, according to a Jackson Police Department report released Wednesday. Major crimes increased 12.4 percent from the last week of February, with property crimes increasing 6.5 percent and violent crimes increasing 50 percent. The report (PDF) shows that house burglaries and aggravated assaults increased the most sharply, largely due to a spike in those crimes in Precincts 2 and 3. Precinct 2 covers West Jackson and part of the city's center, and Precinct 3 covers Northwest Jackson. Police reported 37 percent fewer auto burglaries, also largely due to decreases in Precincts 2 and 3.

Jackson Crime Down In Late February

Jackson enjoyed a slight decrease in major crimes at the end of February, according to Jackson Police Department data released last week. The JPD report (PDF) on major crimes for the week of Feb. 23 through Mar. 1 shows a 23 percent decrease in major crimes from the previous week and a 16 percent drop from the same period last year. Violent crimes increased 50 percent from the previous week, from 14 to 21 incidents, due to a spike in armed robberies in Precincts 2 and 3, but the overall rate was still a decrease from this time last year.

Protect Justice in Mississippi

Gov. Haley Barbour and Mississippi's legislators have several opportunities this session to provide measures of justice to its citizens.

MDOC Refusal to Provide Info under Fire

Prison Legal News filed suit in Hinds County Chancery Court yesterday to force the Mississippi Department of Corrections to release a copy of the state's prison telephone contracts, according to a release.

Doris Shavers Killer Pleads Guilty

Henry Lee Phillips pleaded guilty today to murdering his former girlfriend, Doris Shavers, 40, on Sept. 17, 2007, as Shavers combed her 12-year-old daughter's hair before leaving for work. The day of the murder was Jessica's birthday.

Minor Appeal Set

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in the appeal of Jackson attorney Paul Minor on April 1, in Austin, Texas.

Ledger Admits Guilt on Melton

Last weekend, David Hampton, editorial director of The Clarion-Ledger, wrote what could have been an important first step for the newspaper that did a fair bit to help get Frank Melton elected.

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