- As Mississippi lawmakers seek ways to improve a prison system shaken by recent deadly violence, a related problem is looming: A judge said Tuesday that parole officers are “woefully underpaid and overworked.“Circuit Judge Prentiss Harrell said parole officers often handle hundreds of cases each. That has contributed to an increase in the prison population, because a growing number of ex-inmates are being returned to prison for parole violations. At least 15 inmates have died in the Mississippi prison system since late December. Most were in the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, and many died amid violent conflicts between inmates. Mississippi’s prison population decreased between early 2012 and early 2016 because of some policy changes.

Source: thestar February 04, 2020 23:26 UTC