OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Congressman Thompson Calls Settlement Agreement 'New Day For Juvenile Justice In Mississippi'

Date: May 3, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Minors and Children Criminal Justice


Congressman Thompson Calls Settlement Agreement 'New Day For Juvenile Justice In Mississippi'
Tuesday, May 03, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) released the following statement:

"Four years ago, my office started to field complaints from medical professionals, employees, parents and children housed at Columbia and Oakley Training Schools. As a follow-up, I notified State officials and asked the State legislature to hold oversight hearings, investigations and other exercises of authority to correct any deficiencies at Columbia and Oakley. After an unsatisfactory response, I asked the Department of Justice to conduct its own investigation into the claims of abuse and neglect at the training schools. My office even offered to provide DOJ with the names and contact information of individuals - parents of cadets, employees and medical professionals - who had came forward regarding the treatment of cadets at Columbia and Oakley.

"After an 18-month investigation, DOJ wrote the Governor informing him of their findings in a 46-page report. The report confirmed the worst fears of many Mississippians. DOJ interviewed children who had been beaten, malnourished, mis-educated and medically-neglected - all at the hands of the State. In the summer of 2003, I again wrote DOJ asking what course of action they planned to pursue regarding the safety of the cadets, in light of their findings.

"In December of 2003, DOJ filed a lawsuit to force the State to bring the training school conditions up to constitutional standards. Today, we signal the dawn of what will hopefully be a new day for juvenile justice in Mississippi. While the settlement agreement reached by DOJ and the State is not perfect, it does represent the return of some semblance of decency to juvenile justice in Mississippi."

http://benniethompson.house.gov/HoR/MS02/News/Press+Releases/2005/05-03-05+Congressman+Thompson+Calls.htm

arrow_upward