"DOJ Aid Sought for Unmarked Graves in Mississippi"

The Department of Justice is providing technical assistance to the Jackson Police Department and Hinds County Coroner’s Office in Mississippi to improve next-of-kin death notifications following controversies over missing loved ones buried in unmarked graves. This assistance, under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, aims to ensure timely and trauma-informed notifications that comply with federal civil rights law. The move comes after national scrutiny over the handling of several cases, including the burial of Dexter Wade, who was struck by an off-duty officer and left unidentified for months before being buried in an unmarked grave. The DOJ's assistance will involve examining police practices and providing policy recommendations and training on locating next-of-kin.