A community-led class action lawsuit has secured court oversight to overhaul the Jackson Police Department’s roadblock policy known as “Ticket, Arrest and Tow” or TAT.
The suit brought on behalf of several Mississippians who live or work in Jackson and regularly drive in majority Black and low-income neighborhoods where roadblocks disproportionately occurred.
The plaintiffs, in conjunction with the Mississippi Alliance for Public Safety (MAPS), raised concerns about Jackson’s TAT roadblocks and explained to lawyers how they were forced to endure repeated delays as they attempted to get to work on time, pick up children from school, and make it to medical appointments.
The lawsuit argued that TAT roadblocks were unreasonable searches and seizures in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The United States Supreme Court has said such use of roadblocks is similar to the police routinely entering people’s homes to search for evidence of criminal behavior and violates the Fourth Amendment.
The City of Jackson has agreed to submit to federal court enforcement of the settlement.
The consent decree requires a new Jackson Police Department (JPD) policy that prohibits the use of roadblocks for general crime control, requires roadblocks to be evenly distributed across Jackson, specifies the limited circumstances under which people may be arrested at a roadblock, and addresses practical issues such as the towing and retrieval of cars.
JPD also is required to collect and report data regarding its use of roadblocks, which will be made publicly available here, and distribute know-your-rights flyers to people ticketed or arrested at roadblocks.