FORMER CARLISLE, ARKANSAS POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED ON CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING INMATES

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced the conviction of Alvin Jeremy Hampton, a former Carlisle, Arkansas police officer, on criminal civil charges. Specifically, Hampton was sentenced to 212 months (17 years and eight months) in prison for sexually abusing two men in his custody.

"Police officers every day carry out a vital and often dangerous duty, and they deserve our support, trust, and confidence," said R. Alexander Acosta, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "When a few violate the civil rights of those they have sworn to protect, they undermine that trust and confidence, and increase the burden on and danger to their fellow police officers. We will continue to pursue vigorously those who abuse the public trust."

Hampton was arrested on June 10, 2004, following a sting operation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On July 23, 2004, pursuant to a plea agreement with the government, Hampton pled guilty to using his power as a police officer to coerce individuals in his custody into performing sexual acts. Specifically, on two occasions he arrested individuals for minor infractions and threatened them with incarceration if they refused his sexual demands. One assault took place at Hampton's apartment and another in his office at the Carlisle Police Department. Hampton had been an officer with the Carlisle Police Department from March 2002 until his termination in June 2004.

"The vast majority of law enforcement officers are trustworthy and their service is vital to the community; we owe it to every one of them to pursue any wrongdoer who wears a badge," said Bud Cummins, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. "When that happens, citizens can continue to rely on their local officers without hesitation. We are grateful for the work of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division in this case."

Enforcing the criminal civil rights laws is a priority of the Civil Rights Division. Over the past year, the Division has charged some 140 individuals with violating the civil rights of others while acting under color of law.

The FBI investigated the case with the cooperation of the Carlisle Police Department. The case was jointly prosecuted by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the United States Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of Arkansas.

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