This article is a part of a series called “Lost Rites,” which explores America’s flawed death notification system.
The Justice Department has announced its commitment to assisting authorities in Mississippi in enhancing their death notification procedures. This move comes as a response to the alarming discovery made by NBC News, which revealed systemic failures that led to individuals being laid to rest in a pauper’s field without their families being informed.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, who heads the civil rights division of the Justice Department, emphasized the importance of transparency and the right of families to be involved in decisions about their loved ones’ burials. She stated, “Families want and deserve transparency and the opportunity to make decisions about their loved ones’ burials.” The department aims to support officials in delivering death notifications and making burial decisions promptly and with sensitivity, in accordance with federal civil rights law. The goal is to provide technical assistance that ensures these processes are trauma-informed and compliant with the law.
The Justice Department has announced its commitment to providing assistance to the Jackson Police Department and Hinds County coroner’s office.
In response to NBC News’ investigation on the failure to notify families, the authorities have decided to take action. The investigation was prompted by the case of Dexter Wade, who tragically lost his life after being struck by an off-duty police officer in Jackson. Shockingly, Wade’s mother was not informed about his death, even after she reported him missing. To make matters worse, Wade’s body remained unclaimed for several months, and he was buried in a pauper’s field at the county jail work farm, with only a number marking his grave. It wasn’t until August, five months after her son’s passing, that Bettersten Wade discovered the truth.
The story of Wade prompted civil rights lawyers and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., to demand a federal investigation.
NBC News discovered additional instances over the course of several months, where six more individuals, including those who were homeless, mentally ill, or struggling with drug addiction, were laid to rest in the pauper’s field, while their families searched for them. In two instances, families were informed of their loved ones’ deaths by a reporter from NBC News. Furthermore, two families identified their loved ones’ names on a list of unclaimed bodies that was published by NBC News.
With every case, it became evident that there were systemic breakdowns. The Hinds County coroner’s office and the Jackson Police Department neglected to search law enforcement databases or the internet for missing person reports, which could have helped reunite families with their loved ones. There were instances where authorities gave up on notifying next of kin after receiving no response from knocking on doors or calling nonfunctional phone numbers.
Grieving families have expressed their disappointment with the way authorities have handled cases involving individuals who struggle with mental illness, homelessness, and addiction. These families have shared their experiences of having to repeatedly contact the coroner’s office in order to obtain a response after learning about the death of their loved ones. Furthermore, they have raised concerns about receiving conflicting explanations from both the coroner’s office and the police.
Calls for change were repeated with each new revelation.
In November, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade took action by implementing the department’s initial policy on death notifications. Following suit, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors recently adopted a policy that mandates the coroner’s office to cross-check missing person registries before requesting a burial. However, the county has not yet made the policy available to the public.
In a statement on Thursday, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration between the city and federal authorities regarding the death notification issue. He mentioned that the joint effort with the Department of Justice (DOJ) is welcomed and will further enhance the existing standards. Lumumba believes that this assistance will contribute to better serving the residents of Jackson.
Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart, who previously faced criticism for her response to a distraught mother, has yet to provide a comment in response to the latest request. In February, she infamously stated, “I don’t know how to find people,” which sparked outrage.
The Justice Department has announced that it will offer technical support in accordance with the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in programs that receive federal financial assistance. The department acknowledges that there have been reports suggesting that there might be a perception of race or other factors influencing the process of notifying next-of-kin about deaths.
Out of the seven instances where notifications failed to be delivered, NBC News reported that three of the deceased individuals were Black, while the remaining four were white.
According to a news release by the Justice Department, the police and coroner’s office have voluntarily agreed to receive technical assistance and support. It is important to note that this assistance is not a finding of fault or wrongdoing by the agencies.
The civil rights division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi will provide technical assistance. They will assess the policies of the Jackson Police Department regarding missing persons and death notifications. Based on their findings, they will offer recommendations for training. Additionally, the Hinds County coroner’s office will receive recommendations on policies and training for locating next of kin.
Bettersten Wade, the mother of Dexter Wade, expressed her relief and gratitude towards the Justice Department for intervening in the situation.
“It gives me a sense of relief knowing that someone is stepping in and recognizing that mistakes were made,” she expressed. “I genuinely hope that nobody else has to endure the same ordeal that I went through.”
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