The Justice Department has announced plans to help authorities in Mississippi improve their death notification procedures following systemic failures that resulted in individuals being buried in pauper’s fields without their families being informed. This move was in response to NBC News’ reporting of failed notifications, beginning with the story of Dexter Wade, who was struck and killed in Jackson without his mother being notified until months later. Subsequent investigations by NBC News revealed more cases of individuals, many of whom were homeless or mentally ill, being buried without their families’ knowledge.
Calls for a federal investigation were made after Wade’s story came to light, and further reporting uncovered even more cases of failed notifications and systemic breakdowns within the Hinds County coroner’s office and Jackson Police Department. Families of the deceased have criticized authorities for their lack of transparency and disregard for individuals struggling with mental illness, homelessness, and addiction. There have been complaints of delayed responses and contradictory explanations from the coroner’s office and police, prompting demands for change to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Efforts to address these issues have included the adoption of department policies covering death notifications by the Jackson Police Department and the implementation of a policy by the Hinds County Board of Supervisors requiring checks of missing person registries before requesting a burial. However, there have been delays in releasing a copy of this policy to the public. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba stated that the city has been working closely with federal authorities on the death notification issue and welcomed the assistance from the Justice Department to enhance the current standards in place.
The Justice Department’s technical assistance will be provided pursuant to the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, with a focus on preventing discrimination in programs receiving federal financial assistance. While reports have suggested that race or other factors may have played a role in the failed notifications, the assistance is meant to improve practices, not assign blame. The civil rights division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi will examine policies on missing persons and death notifications within the Jackson Police Department and make recommendations for training. The Hinds County coroner’s office will receive guidance on locating next of kin and related policies and training.
Bettersten Wade, Dexter Wade’s mother, expressed relief that the Justice Department was stepping in to address the issues uncovered by NBC News. The department’s involvement aims to ensure that officials can deliver death notifications in a timely and trauma-informed manner while complying with federal civil rights laws. Through technical assistance and support, the hope is to prevent future instances of individuals being buried without their families’ knowledge, ultimately providing families with transparency and the opportunity to make decisions about their loved ones’ burials.
