DeSoto County DA Billboard: ‘We Don’t Catch and Release’
Drivers on Interstate 55 in Southaven are seeing a blunt new message this week. The latest DeSoto County DA billboard carries the warning, “We don’t catch and release.”
District Attorney Matthew Barton’s office put the message on the digital sign next to the Landers Center along I-55. The office also shared the graphic on its Facebook page Friday.
Barton’s Message Behind the DeSoto County DA Billboard
Barton said the sign is aimed at anyone who sees DeSoto County as an easy place to commit crimes.
“If you come to DeSoto County looking for an easy target, you picked the wrong one,” Barton said, according to the DeSoto Times-Tribune. He added that offenders “will meet law enforcement on the street and one of my prosecutors in the courtroom.”
The campaign draws a contrast with Memphis, just north of the state line. Barton has argued that suspects arrested in Memphis are often released the same day, and he wants would-be offenders to know that crimes committed in DeSoto County carry serious consequences.
Part of an Ongoing Billboard Campaign
This is the latest in a series of public service billboards from the DA’s office meant to discourage crime:
- “Turn Back Now” billboards warned criminals coming into DeSoto County that prison is waiting for them.
- Another sign reminded offenders that Mississippi allows the firing squad in capital cases.
- Around New Year’s Eve, a roadside message warned drivers about the dangers of driving under the influence.
The Landers Center sign sits along one of the busiest stretches of I-55 in the Mid-South. It is seen by many drivers traveling between Memphis and North Mississippi.
About the District Attorney’s Office
The DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office is based at 365 Losher Street in Hernando and prosecutes felony cases in DeSoto County. His office regularly posts indictments, convictions and sentencings on its official Facebook page.
To report a crime in progress, call 911. For general questions, the DA’s office can be reached at (662) 469-8014.
Related: DeSoto DA launches “Turn Back Now” billboard campaign | DeSoto DA’s office welcomes Kendall Akerson
Source: DeSoto Times-Tribune; DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office
