Justice

Group Links Parole Reforms To Economic Development

Expanding parole eligibility in Mississippi comes with economic benefits, Rounds Consulting Group Inc. said in a March 2021 report. Currently, those incarcerated in Mississippi cost the state $14,600 per year in prison, the report pointed out.

Analysis: Watchdog Gives Bleak Report on Mississippi Prisons

Bloody clashes that brought Mississippi's prison system under federal scrutiny last year were part of a dramatic increase in reported cases of violence behind bars.

Parole Reform Law Brings New Chance For Thousands, But Not Habitual Offenders

Thousands of incarcerated Mississippians will soon become eligible for a parole hearing after Gov. Tate Reeves signed the “Mississippi Earned Parole Eligibility Act” into law this Thursday.

High Court Moves Away from Leniency for Minors Who Murder

After more than a decade in which the Supreme Court moved gradually toward more leniency for minors convicted of murder, the justices on Thursday moved the other way.

Ex-Cop Guilty of Murder and Manslaughter in Floyd Case

Former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests.

After 16 Months Awaiting Trial, Suspect Found Hanging in Hinds County Jail

Justin Mosley, 21, a suspect found hanging on Sunday in his Raymond Detention Center cell, has been awaiting trial for 16 months, Capt. Tyree D. Jones, the sheriff's public information officer, told the Jackson Free Press Monday.

Mississippi Law Will Ban Shackling Inmates During Childbirth

Mississippi will join a growing number of states and the federal government in banning the use of restraints on women giving birth in a jail or prison.

Mississippi and Secret Service Work on Cybercrime Task Force

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said Tuesday that her office has established a partnership with the U.S. Secret Service and in-state law enforcement agencies to investigate financial crimes that occur online.

Parole Reform Passes to Governor’s Desk Amid Murky Future

Accessibility to parole hearings would extend to more inmates across Mississippi’s state prison system if Gov. Tate Reeves signs legislation passed in the state Senate this week.

'We Are Beat Down’: Citing Crime and Defying Mayor, Council Clears $500,000 for More Deputies

The Jackson City Council has approved $500,000 for the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department over the objection of the mayoral administration and two council members in an agreement that no one has put on paper, yet.

Mississippi Told to Pay $500K to Wrongfully Imprisoned Man

A judge is ordering the state of Mississippi to pay $500,000 to Curtis Flowers, a Black man who was wrongfully imprisoned more than 22 years and was tried six times in a quadruple murder case.

Seeking Solutions to Illegal Dumping: Education, Citation, Action

"(Illegal dumping) poses a big problem in the city of Jackson," Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks acknowledged at the Feb. 2 council meeting. "As soon as we organize cleanups to pick it up, it's back out there (in) three or four days."

City Imposes Night Security Requirement on Jackson Convenience Stores

Convenient stores in Jackson must have security personnel between midnight and 5 a.m., under an ordinance the city council passed to help curb crime.

Capitol Police Could Gain Extradition Power Inside Jackson Under Divisive Bill

Mississippi Capitol Police are set to gain lead jurisdiction in parts of Jackson, as well as the ability to eject those it arrests on misdemeanor charges out of Hinds County, if a bill that passed the Mississippi Senate last week becomes law.

Violence Experts: Mayor's Youth Curfew Order May Prove Counterproductive

Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba imposed a five-day curfew order for those under age 18 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. due to rising crime in the capital city.

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