Dear friend,

The five deaths in Parchman prison in Mississippi were a tragic way to begin the new year — but sadly, they were not a surprise.

Last May, FAMM urged the U.S. Justice Department to investigate Parchman and other Mississippi prisons after receiving photos and hearing stories from family members about the shocking living conditions.

We were scared that something awful would happen at Parchman — and we're scared that it’s going to happen in other states if lawmakers don't wake up.

Like too many prisons around the country, Mississippi’s are overfilled and understaffed. That dangerous combination is what breeds violence and unsafe conditions. All too often, our nation's prisons and jails are shielded from accountability and transparency. Families with incarcerated loved ones have a difficult time getting any information from prison officials.

FAMM continues to fight for smart sentencing reforms that will allow states to safely reduce their prison populations. We also are fighting for prison reforms so that people serving time are safe, treated with dignity, and given opportunities to be rehabilitated. We are pushing for the creation of independent oversight bodies so that taxpayers and families know how their state prisons are being run.

In the meantime, you can make your voice heard. Sign our petition asking the U.S. Department of Justice to #CloseParchman immediately!

Thank you,


Kevin Ring
President, FAMM

P.S. Text FAMM to 21333 to join our growing rapid response network.