Report reveals each homicide costs over $900k to investigate in Mississippi

DESOTO COUNTY, Miss. — Mississippi State Auditor Shad White mentioned every murder in Mississippi prices the state between $900,000 to $1.2 million.

He mentioned there are higher methods to spend cash and save lives.

“You’re additionally speaking about the price to analyze against the law scene and clear against the law scene and prosecute somebody and if they’re discovered responsible the price of incarcerating that individual, so what we did is we checked out analysis from across the Southeastern US,” White mentioned.

White mentioned the numbers present extra police in communities across the state would assist cut back the variety of homicides.

He mentioned that homicides additionally drive down property values and influence companies negatively.

Loretta Seabrooks of Olive Department mentioned she believes the auditor might be proper on the subject of extra police.

“Nicely, something is useful. You already know what I’m saying? It won’t repair it utterly, however it should deter,” Seabrook mentioned.

DeSoto County’s Arthur Brandon mentioned he’s not so positive about that.

“Placing extra officers on the road would possibly work, however they must be in the suitable place and the suitable time when they’re wanted, and also you by no means know the place that’s going to be,” Brandon mentioned.

The auditor mentioned on high of the tragedy of each life misplaced, each murder prices the state round one million {dollars}, and extra police would repair that.

“For each 100 cops you rent, you forestall between six and 7 homicides per 12 months. Once more, going again to the price of these homicides, you might be speaking about saving hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands for taxpayers, and you might be speaking about saving treasured lives,” White mentioned.

Whereas the auditor argues that extra police will cut back crime, many civil rights teams mentioned extra police doesn’t imply much less crime.

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