A lawsuit supported by Hip-Hop artists, Jay-Z, Yo-Gotti and Team ROC, made a Mississippi prison loosen ties with its healthcare provider.
What We Know:
- The lawsuit came about due to the bad living conditions of 227 inmates at the Parchman Prison in Sunflower County, Miss. The Hip-Hop artists helped the inmates get legal representation to file a Class-Action lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of corrections commissioner Nathan Burl Cain and prison healthcare provider Centurion, according to a report by NME.
- According to the claim, the prison was not following proper protocols for the prevention of the COVID-19 virus. In addition to that, the prison has different types of molds in it, limited access to the showers, contaminated water system and inadequate kitchen facilities and food available to them.
- There have been two lawsuits filed and represented by the Parchman prison inmates with the help of Jay-Z, Yo-Gotti and The ROC Team. These lawsuits have followed the same reasons for horrific conditions and violations of the prisoner’s constitutional rights. Ever since Dec. 29th, a total of 27 deaths have occurred at the Parchman prison.
The lead attorney for Team ROC, Marcy Croft said in a statement, “there is no excuse for the 52 deaths across Mississippi prison system over the past several months, many of which were preventable.” Croft additionally mentioned, ”We will not stop until the incarcerated receive consistent and competent medical care, especially now with the COVID-19 crisis. This must be a priority.”
- Centurion served a notice that it will be terminating its contract with the Mississippi Department of Correction on Oct. 5th, 2020. “We do not believe we can further improve the effectiveness of our level of care without additional investment from the Department in correctional staffing and infrastructure along the lines of what we have already recommended”, said Centurion CEO Steven H. Wheeler in a memo.
This decision serves a message to Governor Tate Reeves to invest more money in Mississippi’s prison system for the health and protection of their inmates. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has not provided a statement or any comments about the conditions and lawsuit.
