
Carroll O'Connor stars as a small-town police chief (and later a sheriff) in fictional Sparta, Miss. For a small town, Sparta has its share of murder, rape, corruption, racism and drunken driving, so O'Connor's Chief William Gillespie has his hands full. The TV series is based on the novel and film of the same name.

Virgil's arrest of a young drug pusher has serious side effects for the youth's family, particularly his brother, and for Althea.

Virgil suspects the promoters of a crooked real estate deal in the murder of his friend, even though their alibi appears to be airtight.

A young blind woman reports hearing what she thinks is a murder, but Gillespie and Tibbs cannot find a body.

A man prohibits his son from contacting the police after the boy witnesses a rape, fearing it will affect his future.