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| Court Blocks Miss. Death Row Reforms |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 07/24/2003 |
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A federal appeals court has blocked a series of improvements ordered on Mississippi's death row, including mental health checkups, improved toilets and ways of keeping inmates cool during the summer heat. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans agreed on Tuesday to hear an appeal from the Mississippi Corrections Department on the measures ordered by a federal judge. In May, U.S. Magistrate Jerry Davis ruled that 'filthy conditions' on Mississippi's death row were so bad they violated the Constitution and were contributing to a high rate of mental illness among the prisoners. A lawsuit filed on behalf of inmates at the Parchman penitentiary alleged they were subjected daily to excessive heat, human excrement, biting insects and the ranting of psychotic prisoners. The state contends that conditions on death row do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment, as the judge had ruled. Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps has said some measures are already in place, while other changes, including daily showers for inmates when the heat index rises to 90 degrees, would cause security problems. |
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