In 2019, Susan Baxter, a former jailer at the Independence County Detention Center, filed a lawsuit against Sheriff Shawn Stephens and others, alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act. Baxter claimed she was not properly compensated for ‘on call’ time and faced retaliation after reporting jail conditions. The court denied summary judgment on her wage claims against the defendants in their official capacities, allowing those claims to proceed. ([law.justia.com](https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/arkansas/aredce/1%3A2019cv00069/118365/63/?utm_source=openai))
[Return to blog post](https://watchaudits.com/sheriff-shawn-stephens-independence-county-sheriffs-office/)
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