(Jackson, MS) Hinds County District Attorney Jody E. Owens II, announces the release of the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office’s Annual Report.
This year’s report provides a comprehensive review of criminal justice in Hinds County examining the progress of Smart Justice Initiatives, Grand Jury activity, and trial results. The report concludes with an analysis of the challenges the criminal justice system in Hinds County faces heading into 2024.
The report details the over 1,600 indictments returned by the Hinds County Grand Jury in 2023, as well as the 1,480 felony counts resolved during the period. The report also provides a comprehensive review of law enforcement activity during 2023 focusing on the type and volume of crime and the communities in which they are occurring. For example, of the cases brought to the grand jury in 2023, 21% were homicides, 30% were other crimes against the person, and 35% were property crimes.
The report also documents the success of the District Attorney’s Smart Justice initiatives and commitment to diverting eligible non-violent offenders away from the criminal justice system. This year, 98 would-be felons completed the intensive pre-trial intervention program and began their fresh start. 50 drug offenders entered Drug Court joining the other 165 individuals on the road to recovery. In 2023, 170 citizens received expungements, bringing this administration’s expungement total to 434.
“I am proud of the hard work and diligence of the men and women at the Hinds Count District Attorney’s Office whose hard work is reflected in this report.” DA Owens said following a press conference announcing the release of the report.
The Report is available below.
DA Jody E. Owens II Sworn in for Second Term.
On Friday, December 29, 2023, District Attorney Jody Owens was sworn in for a second term of Office during a ceremony at the Hinds County Courthouse at Jackson.
“I am grateful for the overwhelming support of the voters of Hinds County,” DA Owens said following the ceremony. “I look forward to continuing to serve all the citizens of Hinds County as we work to build safer communities for our families.”
On December 12, 2023, DA Owens held his Third Annual Holiday Social & Toy Drive at 4th Avenue Lounge in Jackson. to deserving children at Canopy Children’s Solutions, Matt’s House Shelter for Women & Children, and Gateway Rescue Mission.
We had an amazing time Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at Trustmark Park! It was inspiring to meet so many survivors and to hear their stories and uplifting to see so many supporters! Below are the photographs we took at the event. Find your team there!
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer October 28, 2023
On August 30, 2023, DA Owens joined Sheriff Tyree Jones, Chief Joseph Wade (JPD), and Chief Bo Lucky (OCP) at the Capri Theatre for the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership (GJCP) Partners in Public Safety Forum.
Learn more about CJCP by visiting: Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership – Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Mississippi (greaterjacksonms.com)
On July 12, 2023, the Office of the Hinds County District Attorney issued the following statement in response to the Attorney General’s filing in Fox v. State, No. 2022-KA-00988-COA.
DA Owens Releases Statement Opposing House Bill 1020
On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, DA Jody Owens held an end of year press conference to discuss the office’s successes in 2022, and the anticipated challenges to come in 2023. Watch the press conference and follow the coverage below.
Year in Review: Comparing the Numbers
Grand Jury Action: 2,067 Counts Presented
When the police or other law enforcement agency makes a felony arrest, the case is submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for presentation to the Hinds County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury is charged with either indicting the individual for the crime charged or returning a “no-bill.” An indictment is the formal charging instrument that charges the individual with the crime and is the first step in the prosecutorial process.
In 2022, the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office presented 2,067 felony counts to the Hinds County Grand Jury, which returned 1,879 indictments.
Felony Cases Resolved: 1,017 Cases, 1,489 Counts
In calendar year 2022, the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office represented the citizens of Hinds County in 1,017 felony criminal prosecutions, putting a significant dent in the backlog caused by the pandemic.
Smart Justice
The Hinds Count District Attorney’s Office is committed to Smart Justice, evaluating every case in terms of the best result for both the victim and the community. To accomplish this goal, the Office puts special emphasis on pretrial programs aimed at reducing recidivism and making victims whole. The District Attorney’s Office is also instrumental in assisting citizens, who have paid their debt to society, to expunge eligible convictions.
For more information about the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office, please call (601) 968-6568.
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