The Justice Department has initiated a civil rights investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff's Department to examine allegations of excessive force and racially discriminatory practices.

This investigation follows a federal lawsuit filed in 2022 by local residents who claimed police misconduct and abuse, prompting federal scrutiny.

Under former Chief Sam Dobbins, who was dismissed for using racial slurs, there was a notable increase in arrests for low-level offenses, exacerbating racial disparities in policing.

The report reveals a pattern of excessive force, harassment, and retaliation against critics, disproportionately affecting the town's majority-Black population.

Investigators found that police used excessive force primarily against Black individuals, with body-camera footage showing violence directed only at Black suspects.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated that Black individuals are disproportionately affected by the department's unlawful practices.

The investigation was prompted by a violent incident where two Black men were assaulted by officers after a racially motivated complaint about their presence.

The brutal assault on Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker involved beatings, stun guns, and culminated in one victim being shot in the mouth.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the severity and depravity of the crimes committed by the former officers during their sentencing.

The former officers, including five from the Rankin County Sheriff's Department, received prison sentences ranging from 10 to 40 years for their actions.

The report highlights that Black individuals were disproportionately targeted for traffic offenses, with no recorded instances of force used against white offenders.

Attorneys are pursuing a $400 million lawsuit against the Rankin County Sheriff's Department for the abuse suffered by their clients, reflecting the community's demand for accountability.