The Justice Department announced on Wednesday (2/5/2020) that they will be launching a civil rights investigation on the Mississippi Corrections Facilities. This decision followed after the recent deaths of a dozen inmates, deadly gang activity, and inhumane conditions in the prisons. The investigation will see whether or not there is enough protection for inmates, if they provide quality mental health care, and prevent suicide.

The investigation also comes after Yo Gotti and Jay Z filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the conditions that inmates have been living in.

The investigation will focus on four facilities, including Parchman, the prison where five inmates were murdered within a week.

Additionally, Southern Poverty Law Center and other organizations filed a class-action suit on behalf of prisoners. They also alleged that the conditions are “causing extreme and preventable suffering for thousands of prisoners in violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment,” according to documents.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said that he welcomes the investigation and appreciates Trump for supporting the prison reform.

“We are grateful that President Trump’s administration has taken a focused interest in criminal justice reformand that they care enough about Mississippi to engage on this critical issue,” said Renae Eze, a spokeswoman for the governor.

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