Justice

Report: Mississippi Lawmaker Punched Wife in Face Over Sex

A police report says a south Mississippi lawmaker punched his wife in the face after she didn't undress quickly enough when the lawmaker wanted to have sex.

Mississippi Man's Viral Beating Draws Probe of Possible Hate Crime

When Trevor Gray left a local bar to go to an after party in the early hours of April 13, the Wayne County, Miss., native could not have known that he would leave with his jaw broken in two places, nor that a video of a man beating him would go viral on social media and draw national attention.

Man Pleads Guilty to Burning Cross in Black Mississippi Neighborhood

A Mississippi man who burned a cross in a predominantly African American neighborhood in Covington County pled guilty to federal charges on Friday.

Mississippi Reps Vote 'Nay' on Violence Against Women Act

All three Republicans in Mississippi's Congressional delegation voted against renewing the Violence Against Women Act on Thursday.

Michael Avenatti Defrauded Mississippi Bank, Prosecutors Charge

Michael Avenatti, the high-profile attorney who formerly represented Stormy Daniels, defrauded a Mississippi bank, federal prosecutors in California charged on Monday.

City Council Approves Dart-Like GPS Launchers for Police Cruisers

The Jackson City Council recently approved the use of the StarChase system, which allows police cruisers to shoot GPS tracking devices that stick to fleeing suspects' vehicles, to cut down on the number of dangerous high-speed police chases in the city.

‘Why Can’t I Break That Barrier?’: The JFP Interview with AG Hopeful Jennifer Riley Collins

During our afternoon interview with Jennifer Riley Collins in downtown Jackson, she explained why she believes she is up to the momentous task of becoming the first African American woman ever to win a statewide office, and what she believes she can bring to the attorney general's office.

Supreme Court Set for Case on Racial Bias in Jury Selection

This week, the Supreme Court will consider whether Curtis Flowers' conviction and death sentence in a sixth trial should stand or be overturned because prosecutors improperly kept African-Americans off the jury.

Global Condemnation, Condolences After Mosque Attack

World leaders expressed condolences and condemnation Friday following the deadly attacks on mosques in New Zealand, while Muslim leaders said the mass shooting was evidence of a rising tide of violent Islamophobia.

Four Officers Fired in Mississippi After Man's Death Last Month

The city of Jackson announced the firings of three officers and a supervisor Tuesday following an internal affairs investigation of the arrest and death of 31-year-old Mario Clark.

Youth Courts, Detention May See Reforms from Mississippi Legislature

A record 459 children were in custody in 2015 in Hancock County on Mississippi's Gulf Coast—the highest number of children in detention facilities per capita in the state.

Bryant: GOP Would've 'Hollered' If Obama Pushed Criminal Reform

"You're the only president that can do this," Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says he privately told President Trump last year, as he urged the fellow Republican to support criminal-justice reform.

After Death in Madison Jail, Family Files Lawsuit Against County

What exactly happened in the last 24 hours of Harvey Hill's life is uncertain, but his family is charging that he died due to excessive force in the Madison County Detention Center.

EDITORIAL: State Should Not Shield Names of Officers Who Shoot, Kill

Members of the Mississippi Legislature have jumped into the middle of serious and historic problem that the City of Jackson has grappled with over the last year—whether or when law-enforcement officers who shoot and/or kill non-police should be identified.

Behind the Badge: Two JPD Officers Who Shot Multiple People in Jackson

After about a year of asking, the Jackson Free Press learned the names, current status and in eight out of nine cases, the details of officer-involved shootings since Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba took office in July 2017, promising transparency and police reform.

Ellington