Mississippi Today (https://mississippitoday.org/author/mliu/)
Michelle Liu was a 2018 corps member for Report for America, a national service program that places talented journalists in local newsrooms. She covered criminal justice issues across the state from June 2018 until May 2020. Prior to joining the Mississippi Today team, her work appeared in the New Haven Independent.
Advocates call for information that includes total number of tests, new cases, hospitalizations, lockdowns and quarantines, deaths and recoveries, in addition to the release of elderly and sick prisoners
The state public defender’s office has offered to coordinate a release effort for restitution center inmates who can no longer work to pay off court-ordered debts due to the coronavirus pandemic
Some Mississippi prosecutors join national effort to reduce inmate populations and take other measures to protect inmates from the coronavirus
Amid a dire shortage of personal protective equipment, or PPE, for health providers on the frontlines of caring for COVID-19 patients, Mississippi residents are trying to fill in the gaps at home, donating both purchased and handmade masks
No COVID-19 cases have been reported in Mississippi prisons as of Thursday morning, but the state is taking precautions in light of the highly contagious virus, officials say
Pelicia Hall was the first woman to head the Mississippi Corrections Department
Supporters of the Vermont senator fanned out for a final push ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
Proposals included changing the state flag, expanding Medicaid, hemp farming, mobile sports betting, reducing the prison population, criminalizing teen ‘sexting’ and more
Legislation would create a legal definition for “criminal gang activity” and identify offenses committed under that definition as separate from existing crimes. Those convicted would face three to 15 years in prison.
The federal agency will look at conditions inside Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville, Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl, and Wilkinson County Correctional Facility
Many Mississippi prisoners remain incarcerated after they are eligible for release because they lack approved addresses. A task force submitted recommendations to a legislative panel this week that includes increased funding for transitional housing
Sentenced to life in prison, Tasha Shelby says she’s innocent and was wrongfully convicted due to faulty science in abuse diagnosis. Mississippi Court of Appeals to hear oral arguments from woman’s lawyers and from the AG’s office Wednesday
Father’s filing says prison employees did not try to stop the beating or offer medical assistance
Rep. Robert Johnson gave the Democrats’ response. As with the governor, our reporters fact checked the Democrats’ facts and figures and contextualized several of their claims
Speech focused on ongoing problems with the state’s prison system, and touched on school choice initiatives, educational gains and job growth. Our reporters identified statements from Reeves to provide additional context and clarity.