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| Consent decree no longer needed at prison |
| By clarionledger.com |
| Published: 12/28/2009 |
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Prison officials are asking a federal judge to release them from a consent decree that forced changes at Unit 32, Mississippi State Penitentiary's controversial super-maximum security unit. A series of incidents two years ago, including three homicides and a suicide, thrust the 1,000-inmate unit into the spotlight. But the problems also led to a series of reforms and an unexpected detente with the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU sued the state Department of Corrections on behalf of several inmates in the unit. Now that the reforms are in place, Leonard Vincent, MDOC's top attorney at the penitentiary at Parchman, said the prison wants the court order lifted. In fact, he said, MDOC has gone further than was required by the order in making changes at Unit 32. "As (state Corrections Commissioner) Chris Epps said, it was the right thing to do," he said. During court hearings more than two years ago, testimony - even from MDOC's own witnesses - described Unit 32 as a hellish nightmare where mentally ill inmates howled through the night and guards clashed dangerously with violent prisoners. Both sides report significant progress since those days. But the ACLU has asked the court's order to stay in place for two areas: medical and mental health care. Vincent said the success of the reforms is evident in Parchman's recent accreditation by the American Correctional Association. The association's audit found Parchman to be "an extremely clean, well-organized facility and is maintained to an exceptional standard." Medical care and staffing were deemed "very impressive," and auditors approved the "excellent programs in tuberculosis control, HIV, dental services, monitoring sexual abuse" and plans for an on-site hospice facility. Read More. |
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