Contact:
Rabiah Burks, 202-822-6700
rburks@famm.org
FAMM urges Mississippians to join call for federal investigation of Parchman
Conditions at the prison continue to be extremely unsafe and may violate the Constitution
Parchman, Miss. – FAMM President Kevin Ring sent a second letter to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and local U.S. Attorney urging an investigation of the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman for possible constitutional violations due to unsafe conditions. After sending a letter in May, FAMM has continued to hear from families and people incarcerated at the prison depicting a dangerous environment marked by violence, deplorable living conditions, and understaffing.
“Mississippi has a crisis on its hands,” said FAMM President Kevin Ring. “The information we continue to receive paints a grim picture of conditions at Parchman — residents sitting in flooding cells, exposed wires hanging from light fixtures and mold growing in forgotten corners. This must be investigated.
“These problems aren’t just at Parchman, either. We hear talk about second chances, and about redemption, but too many people are spending years in dangerous, unsafe places. Mississippi has failed to act. It’s time for the feds to step in.”
FAMM is urging its family advocates to call the local United States Attorney to ask him to open an investigation into possible constitutional violations. FAMM set up a hotline (888-887-9480) for concerned Mississippians to call.
For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies in 6 states and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.
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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.