/Incoming Hinds County district attorney Jody Owens accused of sexual harassment by former colleagues

Incoming Hinds County district attorney Jody Owens accused of sexual harassment by former colleagues

The Appeal, a national publication of criminal justice, published the allegations Friday morning. The article describes a variety of incidents, including unsolicited comments about physical appearance, inappropriate touching, and unwanted advances. It cites interviews with 17 people who worked in the Jackson office of civil rights organization. The Appeal was contacted by ten people who said they were aware, witnessed, or had been subject to Owens’ harassment of female employees. A former employee filed a complaint with U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in July. According to The Appeal, the complaint covers “both specific interactions she had with Owens as well as a culture within the office where, she claimed, his behavior was allowed continue unchecked.” According to The Appeal, Owens allegedly touched the employee’s legs repeatedly under the table during a dinner and also commented on her body. The Appeal reports that the woman complained about the harassment to Lisa Graybill (SPLC’s deputy legal Director of Criminal Justice Reform) and Twyla Wilkins (director of human resources). The Appeal reached out to neither of them for comment. Owens, who was the Jackson office’s managing attorney from 2011 to June and resigned in June, denied the allegations. He spoke with Mississippi Today Friday morning, saying that he disagreed with the article’s “content and accuracy”. According to a statement by SPLC Friday afternoon, “The Southern Poverty Law Center treats all allegations of harassment or discrimination from staff seriously. It conducts thorough investigations into every complaint that is received and takes appropriate disciplinary action, including the dismissal of employees.” SPLC spokesperson said that the organization does not comment on personnel matters because they are confidential. Owens has not been disqualified from his new position as Hinds County District Attorney despite the allegations. In November’s general elections, he is unopposed. Owens stated in an interview that he doesn’t condone touching others or unwelcome behavior. He also said that additional protocols will be put in place to ensure that no person feels violated. Owens stated that his career has included fighting discrimination of all kinds. We are certain that this is our record and, as you know, hundreds of employees that we manage, we agree that it is how we manage and lead.” Owens said he would still appear on Friday’s panel “Immigrants and Incarceration”, which will be held at Tougaloo College. This weekend, the National Mass Incarceration and Slavery Conference is taking place. These allegations are a result of recent turmoil at the SPLC Montgomery headquarters in Alabama. Employees described a hostile work environment that was fraught with sexism, racism, and sexual harassment. In March, Morris Dees, the organization’s co-founder and chief lawyer in trials, was fired.