Mississippi is one of the capitals of America's incarceration system right now despite the dangers of the Coronavirus pandemic.
(Pictured: Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.)
According to the Clarion Ledger the United States is home to less than 5% of the world's population, but we also house a quarter of the entire world's prisoners. It is said that critics have begun referring to our country as the "Incarceration Nation" in response to the continued growth and defense of our faulty prison system.
Not only is America holding a quarter of the world's incarcerated population, but Mississippi itself has the second-highest incarceration rate in this country. According to prisonpolicy.org, Mississippi has an incarceration rate of about 1,039 inmates per 100,000 people (including prisons, jails, immigration detention, and juvenile justice facilities).
Logistically, does The Magnolia State really have enough physical space in our prison system for that many people?
There has been news reported in various counties within the state of Mississippi throughout recent years, voicing concern about how inmates are constantly being shuffled through different facilities in an effort to prevent reaching capacity in each building despite the dangers of the current pandemic.
After being released from incarceration, Mississippi residents are often released into communities that lack the resources and funding to help each individual re-enter society productively - yet they are expected to secure housing, employment, education, and to avoid being rearrested. These facts present a major gap in our local judicial system that is leaving hundreds and thousands of Mississippi families without stability.
At Paroled2Pride we believe that your life matters before, during, and after incarceration. If you, your organization, or your local government officials would like to expand our reentry services into your city or state please contact our Executive Director Sharon Jones at paroled2prideoffice@gmail.com