DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton has launched an anti-crime campaign aimed at deterring people from committing crime in the north Mississippi area, specifically targeting would be criminals from Memphis, who he says contribute to more than 30 percent of felonies in DeSoto County.
“Over the last several years, DeSoto County has experienced a significant number of criminals coming from Memphis with the sole purpose of committing residential and commercial crime,” the district attorney’s office stated. “They are accustomed to the soft-on-crime policies in our neighboring county, but that is not the case here.”
The DA said the message is simple: If you cross into Mississippi and break our laws, you will be caught, prosecuted, and sent to prison.
Billboards along I-55 and soon to be near popular shopping areas feature the message “TURN BACK NOW” in large capital letters. Above that it says Memphis Criminals and underneath, saying, “Prison Awaits You in DeSoto County.”
