Jackson Free Press

Mayor Frank Melton called a March 10 press conference to announce the arrest of two municipal court clerks charged with conspiracy to destroy criminal records. At the same conference, Melton declared that corruption in the Jackson municipal court system was so bad that he intended to put court services under the direct supervision of the Jackson Police Department.

"Well, many years ago, court services was under the police department and at this point, because of what has happened in the past, my comfort level is a lot greater if they're reporting in to the Jackson Police Department, under the direction of the police chief," Melton said, admitting that he was determined to merge the two departments despite the fact that they occupy different branches of government.

Council President Marshand Crisler said he was nervous about the idea. "I'm not sure about the legality behind that, so I'm waiting for an opinion from the Attorney General's office on that one," he said, adding that Council must OK Melton's action.

"The law allows the court clerk to be placed under the police chief," said Deputy Attorney General Mike Lanford, "and the police chief is the executive officer of the court by statute, but (Melton) cannot put the municipal court judges under the police."

Melton pursued another case of corruption as head of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. In 2003, Melton accused Municipal Court Clerk Brenda Thomas of obstruction of justice for accepting money from members of the Cohea Street Money Boys and the Wood Street Players to erase their criminal records.

Some nine months later, however, Hinds County Judge Mike Parker threw out the arrest warrant because it had not yet been served. Thomas' attorney, Herbert Lee, told The Clarion-Ledger in 2004 that Melton's warrant was faulty because he had taken unsubstantiated information from an affidavit to make his charges.

Previous Commentsshow

This would not be the first time that the mayor has tried to slide something in and hope that we would not research the issue. I believe that FM has a very good idea of what he can and cannot do. If no one wil step up to the plate and say something, then there will be no end to what he will do. If he would only direct his attention to the issues that he spoke so passionately about during his campaign, we would be moving forward instead of backwards at warp speed. It's easy to be critical of someone else's actions, but this man gives you a lot to work with.

lance

Mar 23 2006

I have lived in the Fondern area since 2000 and last night was the first time that I ever heard a gun shot. Last month an attempted car jacking happened to a friend in the Belhaven area, another person home was robbed in Ben Allen's ward. I do not feel as safe in Jackson today as I did a year ago. Frank, even with his tough cowboy attitude is doing nothing to stop crime that I can see.

malt

Mar 24 2006

It might have been useful for folks during the campaign to stop and make sure everybody was on the same page as far as how they define "crime."

DonnaLadd

Mar 24 2006

Its interesting you bring that up, Malt. I've worked and lived here for around eight years now. Five of those has been spent as a social worker driving into most areas of town other people don't like to go. Yesterday, for the first time EVER I was scared to drive down a certain road at night. Mainly because I had heard of a car jacking happening there recently. That marks the first time this little girl has been frightened of going somewhere in Jackson. I felt sad.

Lori G

Mar 24 2006

Interesting. This is where you get into what Chief Moore was actually talking about in 2003 and beyond: the "perception of fear." And part of the reason that people are starting to feel fearful now, I think, is because there is so much talk of "manhunts" and mixed message about the "most dangerous" people walking the streets -- but little or no (at least public) emphasis on the everyday crimes occurring in the neighborhoods. The last administration may not have had sensationalistic press conferences about running the "thugs" out of town after each and every shooting, but they were doing a pretty job of instituting community policing, and having Crime Prevention people actually interact calmly with the community about what people can do themselves. In other words, they were working on the perceptions of fear that can grip a community and actually make crime worse. We seem to be going down an opposite road now, one lined with submachine guns and manhunts, and it is not one bound to make people feel safer, regardless of the crime stats. (I know, what crime stats?)

DonnaLadd

Mar 24 2006

"Frank, even with his tough cowboy attitude is doing nothing to stop crime that I can see." I think you could have ended that sentence after the word "nothing". The only thing he's done is make hollow sound bites to "raise hell to get things done". And, of course, things aren't getting done right now. The King Ed stuff is a great example. His administration dropped the ball on it, but he was steadfastly blaming HRI and everybody but himself. Things may make a change for the better. I certainly hope so, and I have to make myself believe that they will. But, this man has done nothing to disprove that he's completely incompetent in this arena.

millhouse

Mar 24 2006

Ladd, it was a new experience for me. I really don't know what its "all about" or the etiology of it. But, I'll go with you in that it definitely has to do with my perception of being safe. You're also right that it has to do with the emphasis "The Melton" puts on danger. I've never been one of those people who bought into the whole prepackaged "American Media Fear" thing that recent political administrations have used to control the masses. Last night I realized that DESPITE how cognitively vigilent you stay, despite how much you attempt to "police" what you let into your brain and into your life, if it is in front of your face enough....on the news, coming out of the Mayor's mouth, flagrantly displayed in the wearing of bullet proof vests.....SOME of the "fear" will get in. It will make a little home, and before you know it, you aren't riding down the same streets on which you used to ride.

Lori G

Mar 24 2006

People much smarter than I have done in-depth studies about how fear is used to control people. And it's a prized political tool.

DonnaLadd

Mar 24 2006

So where is the open records thing at? i went to P4 COPS meeting the other night and I was so disappointed when people are trying to talk about the problems in the neighborhood and there was no understanding of what was really happening. How does a community get together and help solve problmes when they are not told what they are!!!! Is anyone suing yet? With this day and age with all these fancy information gathering machines and we refuse to use it...It pisses me off.

guywithanidea

Mar 26 2006