5 Women Quarantined and Left w/o Food, Water, Medicine and Staff Support in Mississippi Prison

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Five women have been reported as quarantined in Quick Bed at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF). The women have been left without food, water, medicine such as insulin and medical staff support. The guards on duty have placed garbage bags over the windows and cameras preventing the women from reaching out for help. The women are relying on the guards’ good mercy and capacity to come and check on them. This information was received from a loved one of a woman that was placed in quarantine. One woman, Ms. Patricia Brown is a diabetic and is in need of her insulin immediately. The women were placed in quarantine after one of their housemates, Ms. Mikimmie Brown, laid on the floor sick for a few days before guards came to check on her. By the time they checked on Ms. Mikimmie Brown her temperature was significantly above 100 degrees, she was reportedly so hot that guards could not remove the rings from her fingers because the metal on the rings was hot to the touch. MDOC staff took Ms. Mikimmie to the hospital and she is now on a ventilator. Guards then moved Ms. Mikimmie’s other five housemates to Quick Bed where they have been without food, medication, and medical support. One of the housemates, Ms. Patricia Brown, is a diabetic that requires insulin. She has not received her insulin and she and the other women quarantined with her have not received food.

“What we see here is a grotesque willful and knowing neglect for a humane life. This is one of the worst examples of the fact that prison is no place for a pandemic. Guards are ill-equipped to handle the medical needs of these women. These women must receive proper medical treatment right now! This is a violation of state law, federal law, international human rights law, and is utterly inhumane.” Says Rukia Lumumba, Steering Committee Member of the Mississippi Prison Reform Coalition & Executive Director of the People’s Advocacy Institute.

“The lack of medical support in MDOC not only puts people incarcerated in danger but guards at danger too. It requires guards to act as medical staff and they are trained to do so and they haven’t received proper PPE.” says, Danyelle Holmes, Steering Committee Member of the Mississippi Prison Reform Coalition & National Organizer for Repairers of the Breach and the Poor People’s Campaign

“This is ridiculous. This has happened before. It is not the first time we have seen such disregard for human life inside of MDOC facilities .” says, Nsombi Lambright, Policy Committee Co-Chair of the Mississippi Prison Reform Coalition & Executive Director of One Voice, MS.

Since the December 2019 prison uprisings resulting from abject neglect, poor medical treatment, inadequate food, sewage in cells, lack of water and other basic needs including proper staffing, and rehabilitation services, the Mississippi Prison Reform Coalition (MPRC) has consistently demanded and pleaded with legislators, Governor Tate Reeves and MDOC Commissioners and Wardens to provide people incarcerated with proper medical treatment, COVID protective gear, adequate food, the downright closure of Parchman prison and the release of vulnerable populations of people including the elderly, those living with chronic illness, and those with disabilities. MDOC and the Governor have failed to respond. Conditions continue to worsen in all MDOC facilities and the Governor has allowed the reopening of the notorious Parchman Unit 29 that is reported to be mold-infested, serious sewage issues, and was deemed unfit for human habitation. Additionally, Governor Reeves recently vetoed SB2123, important parole reform legislation that would have allowed some of these women, including Ms. Patricia Brown, one of the quarantined elderly women, an opportunity for parole. Ms. Brown has spent over a decade in prison. SB2123 would have provided Ms. Brown with the opportunity to go before the parole board to petition for her release. Governor Reeves vetoed the bill. However, State Legislators have an opportunity to right the wrong by overriding the governor’s veto. MPRC, along with advocates from across the state on both sides of the political aisle are pushing for Legislatures to override the Governor’s veto.

And today, MPRC is not only asking for an override but demanding proper medical care and food for the five women held in MDOC CMCF Quickbed.

This is an URGENT CALL TO ACTION! Their lives depend on all of us to speak up for them. They have been silenced for far too long.

Call and or Email:

Ron King, Superintendent

Central Mississippi Correctional Facility3794 Hwy 468Pearl, MS 39208(601) 932-2880

Rking@mdoc.state.ms.us

MDOC Chief Medical Doctor Gloria Perry

301 North Lamar Street, Jackson, MS 39201

(601) 359-5600

MDOC Commissioner Burl Cain

(601) 359-5600

MDOC Deputy Commissioner