- MacArthur Justice Center
- University of Mississippi School of Law
481 Chucky Mullins Drive,
University,
MS 38677
The MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi Law School has prepared a guide to help parole-eligible people and their supporters prepare for review by the Mississippi Parole Board.
This provides an overview of the parole process, including preparing for the review, compiling a parole packet, expectations during a video hearing and planning for the outcome.
Our Priorities
Right now, thousands of people are being held in Mississippi county jails.
Most are there because they are too poor to make bail. As a result, they will remain behind bars for months – even years – before trial or release.
For the first time, we have been able to make this information available to the public.
Mississippi Jail RecordsKey Cases
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Brown v. Corinth
Pretrial Detention
The MacArthur Justice Center, in partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), filed a federal class action lawsuit targeting the City of Corinth, Mississippi for operating a modern-day debtors’ prison, unlawfully jailing poor people for their inability to pay bail and fines. As a result of the settlement, the City will ensure that defendants arrested without a warrant see a judge within 48 hours, will stop jailing defendants who cannot afford to pay a fine or money bail, will release most people on their own recognizance following arrest, and will allow defendants who are unable to pay their fine in full to choose between a $25 monthly payment plan and community service.
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Bell v. City of Jackson
Unlawful Fees and Fines
The landmark settlement of this federal class action against the City of Jackson, Mississippi, brought an end to that city’s self-described “pay or stay” system that sent hundreds of people to jail each year because they could not pay fines and fees in misdemeanor cases. The City has agreed to give indigent defendants the choice...
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Johnson v. Kemper County et al.
Health and Safety
Wayne Johnson was incarcerated at the Kemper Neshoba Regional Correctional Facility for failure to pay fines owed to the Meridian, Mississippi Municipal Court. Despite being sentenced to only two days in jail, Mr. Johnson was detained for more than 50 days. Kemper County, Sheriff James Moore, and five correctional officers have been sued by the...
In the News
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In Mississippi, a Win for Jackson Residents Battling State Control
The New York Times September 23, 2023 -
Mississippi Supreme Court issues ruling in House Bill 1020 challenge
WAPT September 22, 2023 -
‘A good day for us’: Justices hand down mixed ruling in H.B. 1020 challenge
WLBT 3 September 21, 2023 -
Mississippi indigent defense system is broken. Here’s how public defenders want to fix it.
Mississippi Public Broadcast September 20, 2023