The U.S. Department of Justice(DOJ) is investigating the Sangamon Sheriff’s Office, according to media reports on Friday.
The sheriff’s office released the letter they received from the DOJ. The letter can be read here.
In the letter, the DOJ said it was investigating the sheriff’s office for violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The investigation comes after the department reviewed materials from the shooting of Sonya Massey by a now-former deputy in July 2024. Title VI bars discrimination on the basis of race and Title II bars discrimination on the basis of disability. The Safe Streets Act prohibits acts of discrimination from any agency that receives DOJ funds, which includes the sheriff’s office.
The DOJ stated in the letter that Massey’s death raised serious issues with the policies of the Sangamon Sheriff’s office.
Residents in Sangamon County have been calling for investigations since the shooting. In their first meeting, the Sonya Massey Commission called for an investigation of the sheriff’s office by both federal and state authorities.
The DOJ called for the sheriff’s office to respond to the letter by Dec. 15, including all materials about Massey, office policies dating back to the start of 2020, and all written reports of discrimination because of race, ethnicity, national origin, or disability.
Since Massey’s death, residents have marched and attended local government meetings to hold the sheriff’s office accountable. Jack Campbell retired after growing pressure to resign, including from state officials. Sean Grayson, the former deputy charged with Massey’s murder, has been in custody since his arrest in July.
The next meeting of the Sonya Massey Commission is scheduled for Nov. 19.
Springfield Post 