JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Hinds County leaders said they’ve seen progress in the past few years, but they believe more can be done.

An annual report released by the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office showed a drastic decrease in the number of violent crimes across the county. Of the 35 cases brought to trial in 2024, 17 resulted in guilty verdicts.

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens highlighted several accomplishments of the DA’s Office, including the expungements for nonviolent offenses in the last year. He believes more permanent resources are needed to combat crime issues.

“In 2022, we had 14 murders in January. In 2023, we had 13 murders in January in Hinds County. In 2024, we had 12 murders in Hinds County. In 2025, for the month of January, we had five. Huge decreases because we are seeing fewer repeat offenders. We’re catching people quicker, prosecute them sufficiently, and we’re not seeing that in our streets,” Owens said.

He also addressed the Jackson bribery scandal. Owens was indicted along with Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba and Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks, Ward 6. Their trial was postponed to a later date.

“I will say is that the office is bigger than one person and that’s kind of bigger than one person. This is not Jody Owen’s office. This is the office of the Hinds County District Attorney. And that’s what we are focusing on. And there will be another DA at some point in time after me,” Owens said.

Leaders are calling on state lawmakers to allocate more resources to the capital city.