I have just begun a new research case, to try to help a DR inmate. I have never worked on a Mississippi case before, and finding information all but impossible. Does anyone have any links/information about offender background and/or cases, in Mississippi? I need to try to get this case done as quickly as possible, so any/all information would be much appreciated. Thank you.

www.mdoc.state.ms.us (http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us)

Hi Jonathan, and thanks. I had already checked the MDOC website, that just gives location of the offender, and his sentence etc. I need to try to find trial transcripts, witness statements, even a press release, so I have a basis to work from. I have found some information on www.findalaw.com (http://www.findalaw.com) but I need as much information, as I can lay my hands on.
Is Mississippi, a difficult state to find information? Other cases I have done, have been soooo much easier to research.

Mississippi is extremly hard to find information as almost no cases or information is online except in the form of news articles in the major papers in the state.

www.clarionledger.com (http://www.clarionledger.com)

www.meridianstar.com (http://www.meridianstar.com)

No court houses, records, trial informaiton etc. is online. IF you find something you are lucky - mostly you have to go to the courthouse and spends tons of hours digging through transcripts

Case records relating to MS convictions must be obtained from the trial courts. Unfortunately, no databases I'm aware of provide access to the judgment roll. Beyond that, stenographers are private contractors. Normally you won't be able to acess trial minutes without someone first paying for them.

If this is a first appeal, likely is that the minutes are not yet transcribed.

Thanks all. The case is now reaching final appeals, so speed is of the essence. Being in the UK, I can't go to the courthouse and get the transcripts. I have decided the only thing I can do, is contact the inmate direct, as I have information he may have the transcripts I need. Some of the information I have found, contains his lawyers details, so I will contact them too. I will check out the links you have posted Jonathan. Thank you so very much, for your help.

It may be a long shot, but try this link:

http://www.mssc.state.ms.us/appellate_courts/coa/coadecisions.html

This link may be helpful also:

http://www.mslawyer.com/mssc/

I was trying to navigate thru the last link and it was giving me trouble.

Thank you all so very much. This is a DR case and as I say, time is of the essence. I don't like to contact an inmate at all, while working on their case, but have found a pen friend of the inmate, and she is going to request all the information I need. I wish Mississippi was not such a "closed book" as finding the information I need to help this guy, is all but impossible.

Dear Friend,
I don't know whether this will help, but the ACLU brought a major case against Parchman, Unit 32 DR a few years ago. I believe that you can find the original complaint, lawsuit, consent decree, etc. at this link:

www.aclu.org/pdfs/prison/russell.pdf (http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/prison/russell.pdf)

As I'm sure you're aware, there are SERIOUS problems there, and this lawsuit addressed many of them (the basis of this lawsuit was that conditions on DR at Parchman violated the 8th Amendment's prohibition against "cruel and unusual" punishment).
If your friend is being treated poorly on DR at Parchman, I would contact the national ACLU prison project (Margaret Winter or Amy Fettig) and let them know what's going on. I've tried working with the Mississippi ACLU, but have found the National ACLU to be much more responsive and helpful.

If you'd like to read more about the ACLU's litigation against Parchman (not on DR), I would encourage you to go to the ACLU's website and do a search for "Presley v. Epps." This was a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of inmates in unit 32 (but not on DR).

I hope that this is a helpful start! If you'd like additional information, please send me a PM. I may be able to provide something more.

If your DR friend does not have a lawyer at this time, and if you believe that a US lawyer could be helpful to him, I would encourage you to check the American Bar Association's website, and check out the "Death Penalty Representation Project" link. There are quite a few US lawyers who are opposed to the death penalty and who will provide free legal representation of DR inmates. The American Bar Association has established this "pro bono" death penalty project so that DR inmates may have free, quality legal representation.

I hope that this information is helpful!

Blessings to you!
Sara

OMG, I have never read anything like that in my life! Those conditions are horrendous, beyond words. Course there will be some that say it is nothing more than they deserve, but people like that have no concept of humanity! The fact that the guards participate in this brutality, is shocking beyond words, even denying the men water, in the heat of summer.

I appreciate you posting this, even if it did make me sick to the pit of my stomach, the whole world should know about these conditions.

You seem to have quite a good knowledge of the Mississippi penal system, so any links you or anyone else could supply regarding inmates court appearances, witness statements, etc would be very, very much appreciated. I have found a couple of legal sites, such as the one I posted above, but any other help would be greatly appreciated. This case is going verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry slowly! Thank you.

The conditions are truly abominable and inhumane. It was with the help of the ACLU and the courage of prisoners who went on a hunger strike that any changes whatsoever were made. Unfortunately, maintaining the conditions of the court order requires the ACLU to be forever scrutinizing MDOC.

Insofar, as the urgency of obtaining information, it is difficult. However, it isn't impossible. I would like to suggest that you carry on no correspondence either directly with the inmate either personally or through a pen friend. As you may be aware, all correspondance is read by officials. While this is inhibiting, when any fact salient to a case is discussed through any correspondance other than legal, oftentimes, the contents are reported to the Office of the Attorney General. This may assist the A/G's office in informing them of legal strategy for counsel of the inmate.

You are suggesting that this case is at an urgent phase. Would you be referring to a habeas? Unless the inmate is working pro se, there must be an attorney of record to whom you might speak. The other possibility is having materials photocopied by another attorney and faxed to you.

If I can be helpful, please do let me know.

The very best of luck.

The conditions are truly abominable and inhumane. It was with the help of the ACLU and the courage of prisoners who went on a hunger strike that any changes whatsoever were made. Unfortunately, maintaining the conditions of the court order requires the ACLU to be forever scrutinizing MDOC.

Insofar, as the urgency of obtaining information, it is difficult. However, it isn't impossible. I would like to suggest that you carry on no correspondence either directly with the inmate either personally or through a pen friend. As you may be aware, all correspondance is read by officials. While this is inhibiting, when any fact salient to a case is discussed through any correspondance other than legal, oftentimes, the contents are reported to the Office of the Attorney General. This may assist the A/G's office in informing them of legal strategy for counsel of the inmate.

You are suggesting that this case is at an urgent phase. Would you be referring to a habeas? Unless the inmate is working pro se, there must be an attorney of record to whom you might speak. The other possibility is having materials photocopied by another attorney and faxed to you.

If I can be helpful, please do let me know.

The very best of luck.

I have just been given details of the inmates lawyer, a PD (surprise surprise). I will be in contact with them. Some lawyers are great, and assist in anyway possible, others, wont help at all. I just hope this one will co-operate. At the moment we are looking for a retrial, this we hope will be the final outcome. Obviously as he is on DR, we can't afford to be too optimistic, but so far, from what I have seen, he should get one. Please keep us in your thoughts, that we can save a life.

Just off topic slightly, there is another inmate in Parchman, who is an excellent artist. He is currently looking to sell some of his art work, to raise money to pay an attorney, does anyone have any idea's where he could advertise his work to sell?

As we speak, I am waiting for a report, about conditions in Parchman, since the court case. From what I can gather, the guys now have televisions, and fans, but food trays are still coming back dirty, and the tiers are filthy as well. If the men request cleaning materials, they are rarely forthcoming. I think the guys are now being allowed to shower Monday through Saturday, so some slight improvement, but certainly nothing major. This information is from unit 32, and not confirmed as yet.

If the PD cannot or is not willing to help, you might contact, with your friend's written permission, The Office of Capital Post-Conviction in Jackson. They could give you direction, at the very least, should you run into difficulties.

As to the question of art, I believe there is a venue. However, I would have to attempt to reach the person who first mentioned this to me. I'll contact her as soon as possible.

Insofar as conditions at Parchman, yes, small fans are permitted. Also, during extremely hot months, ice water must be provided regularly. A specific radio and television, clear plastic for security reasons, are permitted. Showers are allowed on a regular basis. That's on the 'up' side!

Food trays are sparse and, often, inedible due to rotting food, etc. They are delivered from tier to tier and, therefore, those on the last tier have cold food. Most items are high in carbohydrates and saturated fats. Rarely is there fruit. Parchman is filthy. Several weeks ago, winter coats were passed out. They were threadbare, well used, and so dirty that many of the guys refused them.

In September, the ACLU, NPP, visited Parchman to see whether MDOC was in compliance. They were good enough to inform me of the results and, while there have been improvements in some areas, overall, things remain much the same.

Since the move to 'B' building, however, the guards are less difficult and use of pepper spray much reduced.

It's still a long, long road.

If the PD cannot or is not willing to help, you might contact, with your friend's written permission, The Office of Capital Post-Conviction in Jackson. They could give you direction, at the very least, should you run into difficulties.

As to the question of art, I believe there is a venue. However, I would have to attempt to reach the person who first mentioned this to me. I'll contact her as soon as possible.

Insofar as conditions at Parchman, yes, small fans are permitted. Also, during extremely hot months, ice water must be provided regularly. A specific radio and television, clear plastic for security reasons, are permitted. Showers are allowed on a regular basis. That's on the 'up' side!

Food trays are sparse and, often, inedible due to rotting food, etc. They are delivered from tier to tier and, therefore, those on the last tier have cold food. Most items are high in carbohydrates and saturated fats. Rarely is there fruit. Parchman is filthy. Several weeks ago, winter coats were passed out. They were threadbare, well used, and so dirty that many of the guys refused them.

In September, the ACLU, NPP, visited Parchman to see whether MDOC was in compliance. They were good enough to inform me of the results and, while there have been improvements in some areas, overall, things remain much the same.

Since the move to 'B' building, however, the guards are less difficult and use of pepper spray much reduced.

It's still a long, long road.

Thank you for that.

It seems that the information I have and you have is pretty much the same. Conditions have improved, but only VERY slightly. My contact, says things are still really bad, but the guys are grateful for small mercies, and the fans, showers and televisions are very welcome.

parchman is not a nice place at all. there has been talk about maybe shutting it down but many people in the legislature are not willing to do that atm because they would require another instution being built. i particular dont understand that, because they have two other state institution that are a heck of alot better than parchman.

parchman is not a nice place at all. there has been talk about maybe shutting it down but many people in the legislature are not willing to do that atm because they would require another instution being built. i particular dont understand that, because they have two other state institution that are a heck of alot better than parchman.

I have asked my contact for a report on conditions at Unit 32. I am hoping to get it in the mail this week. Once I get it, I will type it up, here. I suspect it will make horrific reading!