Findings Regarding Department of Justice Investigation of Lauderdale County Youth Courts Meridian Police Department, and Mississippi Division of Youth Services Dear All: We write regarding the United States Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) investigation of allegations that the Lauderdale County Youth Court (“Youth Court”), the Meridian Police Department (“MPD”), and the Mississippi Division of Youth Services (“DYS”) are violating the - 2- constitutional rights of juveniles in Meridian who are referred for law enforcement action by public schools. On December 1, 2011, we notified the City of Meridian and Lauderdale County of our intent to conduct an investigation of MPD and the Youth Court pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141 (“Section 14141”), and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d (“Title VI”). On June 29, 2012, we notified the State of Mississippi of the expansion of our investigation to include DYS. This letter provides notice that, unless there are meaningful negotiations to resolve the alleged constitutional violations in the administration of juvenile justice, we will not delay in filing for relief in federal court. We find reasonable cause to believe that these agencies’ administration of juvenile justice violates the constitutional rights of children in the City of Meridian and the County of Lauderdale under the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments.1 Based on the serious and longstanding nature of the violations, as well as these agencies’ refusal to cooperate with our investigation and provide reasonable access to information, we believe a federal lawsuit against the government entities and agents responsible for administering juvenile justice is necessary to vindicate the rights of the children in Meridian and Lauderdale County. Our preferred course of action would be to avoid contested litigation through your cooperation in our ongoing investigation and joint efforts to remedy constitutional deficiencies. SUMMARY OF VIOLATIONS This letter provides notice that, unless there are meaningful negotiations, DOJ, on behalf of the United States, will file a complaint in federal district court within 60 days. The suit would be filed against the City of Meridian, the County of Lauderdale, Lauderdale County Youth Court, Youth Court Judges Frank Coleman and Veldore Young in their official capacities, the State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and the Mississippi Division of Youth Services (collectively referred to as “the entities”). It would allege the following causes of action: (1) The City of Meridian Violates the Fourth Amendment by Arresting Children Without Assessing Probable Cause; (2) Lauderdale County and the Youth Court Judges Violate the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments by Failing to Provide Children Procedural Due Process in the Youth Court Process; (3) Lauderdale County, the Youth Court Judges, and the Mississippi Division of Youth Services Violate the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments by Failing to Provide Children Procedural Due Process Rights in the Probationary Process; and 1 We have not yet reached a conclusion regarding whether any of the entities are violating the equal protection rights of children, or children's rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Our investigation of these issues is ongoing. - 3- (4) The City of Meridian, Lauderdale County, the Youth Court Judges, and the Mississippi Division of Youth Services Violate Children’s Right to Substantive Due Process Under the Fourteenth Amendment. While the basis for each allegation is described more fully below, in sum, the entities named above help to operate a school-to-prison pipeline, whereby, following referral of students who attend school in the Meridian Public School District (“District”) to law enforcement, the MPD, Youth Court, and DYS administer juvenile justice without regard
Same source, country, and finding where possible.