Justice

Replacing Military-Style Detention

Mississippians who receive earned probation for crimes that do not carry a death sentence or involve deadly weapons will now have access to high-school equivalency education, alcohol and drug counseling, re-entry and employment services—and perhaps, most importantly, "Thinking for a Change," an evidence-based cognitive behavioral-therapy program.

Former State Senator to Plead Guilty in Prison Bribery Case

Former state senator Irb Benjamin of Madison is expected to become the sixth person to plead guilty in Mississippi's prison contract bribery scandal, court records show.

Jackson Police Chief Says Officer Fired After Bribery Charge

A Jackson police officer has been fired after being indicted on a federal bribery charge.

Define Your Scar

We all have scars. I know mine is a physical scar, and others' might be mental, but it's there. My scar is a source of strength, power and love of self. I defined my scar. What's your scar, and what does it give you?

Henley-Young Increases Mental Health Care

Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center will soon be able to offer mental-health assessments and treatments after a court-appointed monitor's report led the county to allocate $190,000 to expand the facility's staff.

The DA’s Puzzling Accusations

A week after Special Judge Larry Roberts ordered files unsealed in the wide-ranging charges against Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith for allegedly improperly trying to help a defendant, the files were still not in public view as at press time.

Hearing Set for Mississippi Man Charged With Killing 2 Nuns

A man charged with killing two nuns in Mississippi is scheduled for a court hearing Friday, where prosecutors will present some evidence before the case goes to a grand jury.

Detectives: Suspect in Florida Mosque Fire Confessed

An ex-convict who posted anti-Islamic rants online confessed to setting fire to a mosque that the Orlando nightclub shooter occasionally attended, and said he was embarrassed by the crime, according to an arrest affidavit released Thursday.

Authorities: Arrest Made in Arson Fire at Florida Mosque

An arrest has been made in the arson fire that heavily damaged the Florida mosque Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen occasionally attended, a law enforcement official said Wednesday.

UPDATED: Indictment Snares Attorney Previously Used to Defend DA Smith

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith was the high-profile name listed in a three-count felony indictment today. But the other is an assistant district attorney who Smith’s attorney claims can help prove that the state attorney general’s office has ulterior motives in pursuing the local prosecutor.

Study: 'Glaring Inequality' in Juvenile-Justice System Fines and Fees

The juvenile-justice system can pose financial burdens on youth depending on their economic background and the color of their skin. A new study, conducted by the Juvenile Law Center, found that juvenile court fines and fee structures more severely affect poor families and exacerbate racial disparities in the juvenile-justice system.

Hispanic Teen Stabbed, Crime Down in Precinct 4

Central Mississippi has seen a spate of violent crime against the growing Hispanic and Latino community in recent months, notably the front-yard robbery and murder of Daniel Omar Gomez and Eli Nunez during a weekend cookout on Westhaven Drive with loved ones.

DA Files: What the Heck is ‘Ex Parte’?

A common denominator in the myriad of charges Attorney General Jim Hood has leveled against Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith is his alleged use of “ex parte communications.”

DA Files: The Legacy of Williams v. State

During his objections to Attorney General Jim Hood's prosecution of Christopher Butler at a hearing in Hinds County Judge Melvin Priester Sr.'s courtroom on March 3, 2016, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith referenced the Supreme Court decision of Williams v. State.

DA Files: What Is Case No. 16-120?

This Hinds County Circuit Court case, 16-120, serves as the central mystery to the ongoing legal morass surrounding District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith.

Ellington