A portion of the ongoing lockdown of MDOC prisons has been lifted.
According to the department, the lockdown has been lifted at 13 of the 15 regional correctional facilities across the state. The two exceptions are the Chickasaw County Correctional Facility and the Yazoo County Correctional Facility.
The lockdown remains in effect at the three state prisons and three privately managed prisons.
The state prison system was placed under lockdown last Sunday. Since then, five inmates have died at three different prisons, including three at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. MDOC officials have attributed several of the deaths to gang violence.
Two inmates also escaped from Parchman on Saturday, but both are now back in custody.
Several state agencies are assisting the MDOC during the lockdown, including the Department of Public Safety.
“DPS will continue to work diligently with the Mississippi Department of Corrections and will provide all available resources in order to bring resolution to this current situation,” said DPS Commissioner Marshall Fisher. “Commissioner Hall and I are in communication regarding the situation and are closely monitoring gang-related issues that could be contributing factors.”
In a tweet, Governor Phil Bryant commented on the situation and said that he has ordered investigations to continue.
I have been working throughout the weekend with @MS_MDOC, MS Highway Patrol and @MSEMA officials to restore order and control at the prison at Parchman. Some MHP Officers continue to process the scene to recover any contraband or items that may be used as a weapon. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/SOdSFAQwRs
— Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) January 6, 2020
All inmate movement at the prisons that remain under lockdown is currently limited to emergencies only.
