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NATCHEZ — Homicide rates for Adams County and the City of Natchez thus far this year are half of what they were in 2023 and 56 percent less than in 2022.

The Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office tracks the number of homicides in counties and municipalities. According to their statistics, Adams County, which includes Natchez, has had four homicide deaths through Sept. 20 of this year.

In 2023, Adams County had eight homicides and one death, whose cause was undetermined. In 2022, Adams County had nine deaths, with one undetermined. In 2021, the county had seven deaths, with one undetermined, and in 2022, the county had eight homicides and, four whose causes were undetermined.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten and Natchez Police Chief Caroline Green pointed out several factors they think are responsible for the decline in murders over the last year here.

“One of those things is COVID restrictions have eased up, and the judicial system is flowing again,” Patten said. “At one point, we couldn’t even hold court. It was extremely difficult. We had to try to hold court in the convention center. Since those restrictions have been removed, the entire judicial system throughout the state has been able to function again — law enforcement, the medical examiner’s office, and the crime lab. When one part of the system backed up, it had a ripple effect throughout the entire state. There was a massive backlog. The District Attorney is pushing to get that backlog cleared up. They are working 32 cases in a day.”

Patten also said the Sixth District Circuit Court judges at work here — Judge Debra Blackwell and Judge Carmen Drake — have given stiff prison sentences to people in Natchez and Adams County who did not need to be free in the community.

“The two Circuit Court judges we have right now have taken some of the most violent people off the streets who were shot callers and shooters, and they have put them where they belong, which is in prison,” he said. “That has had a drastic effect on that rate dropping. And they are not done. We have other murder trials coming up right now. The two Circuit Court judges we have right now when it comes to violent crimes reflect the community sentiment that we don’t want these types of crimes committed here.”

Green agreed.

“Having those people in prison has had a tremendously positive effect on our community,” she said.

Green also said Justice Court Judge Danny Barber and Municipal Court Judge Christina Daugherty set bonds for suspects commensurate with the crimes committed.

“They aren’t giving those low, low bonds anymore,” she said.

“They are setting bonds for violent crimes now that are making statements on how they feel about people committing these crimes in our community,” Patten said.

Patten also credited “a very aggressive DA (Tim Cotton), who has made it known if you come before him with a shooting or are involved in a murder, if convicted, you are going to get 40 years in prison. That’s the magic number — 40 years in prison.

“Circuit Court judges are going one step further than strict sentences. Before suspects even come before them, the judges are making sure they are getting proper representation from their attorneys. Every month, the sheriff’s office and Natchez Police meet with the judges. They want to know who has been here for how long, who needs evaluations, who needs to come before them in court next,” Patten said. “In the 20-plus years I have been in law enforcement, this is the first time I have seen this. They are not only holding law enforcement accountable, but the attorneys on both sides are also being held accountable. That’s unprecedented in our area, and I am extremely grateful.”

He said every part of the judicial system in Adams County is working as a cohesive unit now, “and that’s causing the system to flow.”

Green said her department’s shift to community policing is paying off.

“Our focus is community-oriented policing. Our guys are making those connections in the community. At the end of the day, people in Natchez and Adams County want to live in a safe community, and the more confidence we give them that we will work to keep them safe, trust is built between our officers and the community,” she said.

Green also credited the community’s Crime Stoppers program.

“We are getting good results from Crime Stoppers. Being able to offer rewards for information has been critical,” she said.”Jessica Stubbs has done an awesome job with that program and really stays on top of everything.”

Stubbs volunteers her time to coordinate Natchez-Adams County Crime Stoppers.

Patten said his deputies are well-trained and committed despite being understaffed and underpaid. He and his command staff work to ensure that deputies know their work is valued and appreciated.