Equity
Felony voting ban lawsuit could now affect 30,000 disenfranchised Mississippians
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Federal judge grants class action status to a suit challenging the constitutionality of state’s felony disenfranchisement laws.
2019 Legislative Session
Senate to revisit lifetime ban on food stamps, assistance for Mississippians with felony drug convictions
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Mississippi one of three states to deny access to benefits. Critics say law hurts children and others in household.
2019 Legislative Session
Victims’ rights bill pushed by California billionaire quietly up for debate in Legislature
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The House adopted the bill, sponsored by Speaker Philip Gunn, Wednesday morning. It nows heads to the Senate for consideration.
Equity
Almost 70% of Mississippians support restoring voting rights to some ex-felons, poll finds
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Several bills aim to reform the state’s process for restoring voting rights to certain felons
‘Parker’s Law’ would put drug dealers behind bars for overdose deaths
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The law will help hold drug dealers accountable, supporters of the bill argue, but others say it would deter people from calling for help in the case of an overdose.
2019 Legislative Session
Criminal justice reforms focus on drug courts, expungement
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This is the third set of reforms introduced in recent years, and is expected to draw bipartisan support
Government
State recoups $26.6 million from Epps bribery scandal
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Attorney general’s office settles 11 lawsuits against Department of Corrections contractors caught up in the bribery case.
Justice
Deaths were up threefold last year at private East Mississippi prison where inmate died last week
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State officials say conditions have improved at facility near Meridian that’s involved in a lawsuit over conditions.
Justice
Criminal justice reform to address ‘low-hanging fruit,’ but specifics still unknown
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Lawmakers plan a so-called placeholder bill to advance the legislation while details are hammered out
Justice
Prison reforms target contraband, conjugal visits, drones and guard pay
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Criminal-justice reforms in several areas could draw bipartisan support this legislative session
Justice
Carlton Reeves, federal judge known for civil-rights rulings, assigned Madison County racial profiling lawsuit
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The retirement of another longtime judge prompted the move
Justice
A Harrison County man moves closer to having his voting rights restored — but it hasn’t been easy
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Patrick Joseph Fick illustrates the difficulty of navigating Mississippi’s tough felony enfranchisement laws
Justice
Juvenile jail sees new light as new arts center in McComb
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Pike School of Art hopes hopes to make a former youth detention center into a thriving space for art-making
Justice
Pregnant woman who died is the third ‘suspicious’ Madison County jail death this year, lawyer says
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Lanekia Michelle Brown, 37, of Grenada died after complaining of stomach pains, her mother said
Justice
Meet Johnnie McDaniels, the new judge who wants to rethink Hinds County’s juvenile justice system
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Supporters say his experience running the Hinds County youth detention center will be an asset on the bench