Mississippi jail guards allegedly used inmate "trusties" to beat prisoners for minor rule breaks, with 69 documented incidents from 2012 to 2024.

A joint investigation by Mississippi Today and the New York Times reveals systemic violence at Mississippi’s Rankin County Jail, where guards allegedly used trusted inmates, known as "trusties" or the "Blue Wave," to beat other prisoners for minor infractions. The assaults, often in camera blind spots, were reportedly ordered by staff and carried out in exchange for privileges like unlocked cells and outside work. Former inmates and guards described the abuse as widespread, with 69 incidents documented from 2012 to 2024, including severe injuries. Some trusties were also attacked, and complaints were frequently dismissed. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the findings, while the sheriff’s department denies the allegations, calling the report baseless and defending the jail as well-run.