inmates
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Calls and Video Visits Free in Federal Prisons During Pandemic
Those currently incarcerated are among the most vulnerable of our population when it comes to COVID-19, as the crowded living conditions make them far more susceptible to catching the disease. Exorbitant calling fees have also made it harder for inmates to check in on their loved ones during these trying times. At least, they did.…
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Changes Are Coming to Mississippi Prisons Amid Rising Violence and Lack of Inmate Care
Lately, the Mississippi prison system has been doing a lot to challenge my assumption that HBO’s Oz was a complete work of fiction. The sheer violence and harsh living conditions inmates suffer alone is enough for Mississippi prison stories to inspire another season or two of the show. Earlier this month, The Root reported that…
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In the Past Week, Five Inmates Have Been Killed in Mississippi Prisons Due to Gang Violence
In Mississippi, five inmates have been killed due to stabbings and attacks within the past week. NBC News reported on Friday that 36-year-old Denorris Howell died after sustaining neck wounds in a fatal attack following an altercation with his cellmate at Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman. He was the fifth inmate who was killed at…
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Muslim Inmates Finally Granted Meals During Ramadan After Days With No Food
Inmates in Washington state have been losing more than 20 pounds each during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan because of prison policies, according to a lawsuit brought by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. CAIR contends that during Ramadan, prison officials are refusing to provide prisoners with food between sundown and sunrise, the only time…
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Tennessee Judge Who Offered Freedom in Exchange for Sterilization Receives Mild Reprimand
A Tennessee judge who drew widespread condemnation this past summer for offering vasectomies in exchange for lighter jail sentences has been formally reprimanded. Judge Sam Benningfield of White County told repeat drug offenders in his court that he would cut their sentences by 30 days if they would sign up for sterilization. For male inmates,…